Distress improves after mindfulness training for progressive MS: a pilot randomised trial

Background. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to effectively reduce anxiety, depression and pain in patients with chronic physical illnesses. Objectives. We assessed the potential effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a specially adapted Skype distant-delivered mindfulness intervention, designed to reduce distress for people affected by primary and secondary progressive MS. Methods. Forty participants were randomly assigned to the 8-week intervention (n=19) or a waiting-list control group (n=21). Participants completed standardised questionnaires to measure mood, impact of MS and symptom severity, quality of life and service costs at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Results. Distress scores were lower in the intervention group compared with the control group at post-intervention and follow-up (p