Eight-month intensive meditation-based intervention improves refractory hallucinations and delusions and quality of life in male inpatients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether an 8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) could reduce persistent hallucinations/delusions and improve health-related quality of life in male inpatients with treatment-refractory schizophrenia.
Results Summary
The iMI significantly improved reduction rates in psychotic symptoms (PANSS scores) and increased health-related quality of life (SF-36) and mindfulness skills (FFMQ) compared to general rehabilitation alone, with more pronounced benefits after 8 months versus 3 months.
Population
Male inpatients with schizophrenia and treatment-refractory hallucinations/delusions (TRHDs).
Effective Dosage
Daily-guided intensive meditation (specific duration/frequency not detailed beyond "daily").
Duration
8 months.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | decrease | PANSS total score | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | significantly improved the reduction rates | #1 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | decrease | PANSS positive symptoms | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | significantly improved the reduction rates | #2 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | decrease | PANSS hallucination/delusion items | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | significantly improved the reduction rates | #3 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | increase | treatment response rates (≥25% reduction) for PANSS total score, positive symptoms, and hallucination/delusion items | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | significantly increased | #4 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | decrease | PANSS total score | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | significantly reduced | #5 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | decrease | PANSS hallucination/delusion items | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | significantly reduced | #6 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | increase | SF-36 physical activity | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | increasing scores | #7 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) | increase | FFMQ mindfulness skills | male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs) | - | increasing scores | #8 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) | decrease | persistent hallucinations/delusions | patients with TRHDs | - | benefits | #9 |
8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) | increase | health-related quality of life (QoL) | patients with TRHDs | - | enhancing | #10 |
longer iMI duration | increase | treatment outcomes | patients with TRHDs | - | yields superior treatment outcomes | #11 |
AIM: This study investigated the impact of an 8-month daily-guided intensive meditation-based intervention (iMI) on persistent hallucinations/delusions and health-related quality of life (QoL) in male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment-refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs). METHODS: A randomized controlled trial assigned 64 male inpatients with schizophrenia and TRHD equally to an 8-month iMI plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) or GRP alone. Assessments were conducted at baseline and the third and eighth months using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), 36-Item Short Form-36 (SF-36), and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Primary outcomes measured PANSS reduction rates for total score, positive symptoms, and hallucinations/delusions items. Secondary outcomes assessed PANSS, SF-36, and FFMQ scores for psychotic symptoms, health-related QoL, and mindfulness skills, respectively. RESULTS: In the primary outcome, iMI significantly improved the reduction rates of PANSS total score, positive symptoms, and hallucination/delusion items compared with GRP at both the third and eighth months. Treatment response rates (≥25% reduction) for these measures significantly increased in the iMI group at the eighth month. Concerning secondary outcomes, iMI significantly reduced PANSS total score and hallucination/delusion items, while increasing scores in physical activity and mindfulness skills at both the third and eighth months compared with GRP. These effects were more pronounced with an 8-month intervention compared with a 3-month intervention. CONCLUSIONS: An iMI benefits patients with TRHDs by reducing persistent hallucinations/delusions and enhancing health-related QoL. Longer iMI duration yields superior treatment outcomes.