The effect of mindfulness therapy in acromegaly, a pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness program on quality of life, mood, pain, sleep, self-compassion, life satisfaction, blood pressure, and heart rate in patients with acromegaly.
Results Summary
The study found improvements in night-time hours in bed, a trend toward reduced time to start sleeping, reduced pain scores, improved self-compassion, and significant decreases in heart rate during mindfulness sessions.
Population
Patients with acromegaly (60 participants across two centers).
Effective Dosage
8-week face-to-face group program (classic Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in one center, adapted program with mindfulness and compassion elements in the other).
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness program | increase | night-time hours in bed | patients with acromegaly in the BCN intervention group | - | an increase | #1 |
mindfulness program | decrease | time to start sleeping | patients with acromegaly in both centres | - | a trend to a reduction | #2 |
mindfulness program | decrease | pain score | patients with acromegaly in the BCN intervention group | - | reduced | #3 |
mindfulness program | increase | self-compassion | patients with acromegaly in the BCN intervention group | - | an improvement | #4 |
mindfulness program | decrease | heart rate | patients with acromegaly in the intervention group in both centres | - | decreased significantly | #5 |
mindfulness program | decrease | heart rate | patients with acromegaly in the BG intervention group | - | fell more | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Patients with acromegaly have often several comorbidities, including decreased quality of life, mood alterations and chronic pain. Mindfulness is effective at improving mood, quality of life and pain management; however, there is no data available on its effect in patients with acromegaly. OBJECTIVE: We aimed at evaluating changes in quality of life, mood, pain, sleep, self-compassion, life satisfaction, blood pressure and heart rate after a mindfulness program. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: This was a randomized, multicentre, international clinical trial (Barcelona-BCN and Bergamo-BG) of 60 patients, 30 per centre. MEASUREMENTS: The intervention group participated in an 8-week face-to-face group program; the control group followed normal clinical routine. In BG, patients performed a classic Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program; in BCN they performed an adapted program including elements of mindfulness and compassion with a greater focus on daily life. RESULTS: In the BCN intervention group there was an increase in night-time hours in bed (p = 0.05) after the program. In both centres there was a trend to a reduction of the time to start sleeping (p = 0.06 BCN, p = 0.07 BG). In BCN, the intervention group reduced the pain score compared to the control group (p = .02), and an improvement in self-compassion was found (p = .04). In both centres, heart rate decreased significantly in the intervention group during a single 2-hour session. This was evidenced at the first and the last program session (BCN p = .013 and p = .009; BG < 0.001 and p = .04). A training effect was found in BG, where heart rate fell more in the last session than in the first (p = 002). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated for the first time the value of a mindfulness program in patients with acromegaly, analysing possible effects and advantages, and clarifying the usefulness of a specific protocol for the disease.