Acceptability and Feasibility of a Mindfulness Intervention Delivered via Videoconferencing for People With Parkinson’s

Abstract

Mindfulness-based group therapy is a rapidly growing psychological approach that can potentially help people adjust to chronic illness and manage unpleasant symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions may benefit people with Parkinson’s. The objective of the paper is to examine the appropriateness, feasibility, and potential cost-effectiveness of an online mindfulness intervention, designed to reduce anxiety and depression for people with Parkinson’s. We conducted a feasibility randomized control trial and qualitative interviews. Anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, fatigue, impact on daily activities and health-related quality of life were measured at baseline, 4, 8, and 20 weeks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the end of the intervention. Participants were randomized to the Skype delivered mindfulness group (n = 30) or wait-list (n = 30). Participants in the mindfulness group were also given a mindfulness manual and a CD with mindfulness meditations. The intervention did not show any significant effects in the primary or secondary outcome measures. However, there was a significant increase in the quality of life measure. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was estimated to be £27,107 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year gained. Also, the qualitative study showed that mindfulness is a suitable and acceptable intervention. It appears feasible to run a trial delivering mindfulness through Skype, and people with Parkinson’s found the sessions acceptable and helpful.

Online Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for People with Parkinson’s Disease and Their Caregivers: a Pilot Study

“…Our PD sample size was small ( n = 22). This was similar to prior MBI studies in PD, including MBCT (Birtwell et al, 2017 ; Cash et al, 2016 ; Dissanayaka et al, 2016 ; Fitzpatrick et al, 2010 ; Pickut et al, 2015 ; Rodgers et al, 2019 ), except for the previous online MBCT RCT that enrolled 60 people, 30 in the active arm and 30 in the waitlist/control arm (Bogosian et al, 2022 ).…”

“…In our previous pilot trial, we also found significant pre- to post-PHQ-9 score reductions only; that study was completed just as the COVID-19 pandemic was starting in the USA and our participants (many of them aging adults) were understandably very anxious (Seritan et al, 2021 ). The only other online MBCT trial published to date did not yield any significant differences in mood or anxiety measures (Bogosian et al, 2022 ). Of note, all previous studies, as well as our own, used adapted MBCT protocols.…”

“…MBCT has been studied in PD, albeit not extensively (Dissanayaka et al, 2016 ; Fitzpatrick et al, 2010 ; Rodgers et al, 2019 ; Bogosian et al, 2022 ). People with PD who participated in an MBCT group noted improved coping skills and appreciated the mutual support (Fitzpatrick et al, 2010 ).…”

“…Dissanayaka et al ( 2016 ) and Rodgers et al ( 2019 ) used a 6-week adapted MBCT protocol and demonstrated improvements in depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. A RCT of adapted MBCT delivered via Skype proved its feasibility and found significantly improved quality of life, but there were no differences between the intervention group and waitlist/control group with regard to any of the other study outcomes: anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, fatigue, or daily activities (Bogosian et al, 2022 ).…”

Efeitos de programas baseados em mindfulness oferecidos pela internet para pacientes com câncer: revisão integrativa de ensaios clínicos randomizados.

“…Corroborando com esses achados, ECR realizado com participantes portadores de esclerose múltipla, em que a intervenção foi um programa online baseado em mindfulness demonstrou ser viável e aceitável, uma vez que 87% dos participantes completaram as oito semanas do programa online (Dunne et al, 2020). Outro estudo com pacientes com Parkinson, em que foi ministrada intervenção com mindfulness via internet, constatou que 73,3% dos participantes aderiram a quatro ou mais das oito sessões o que demonstrou a viabilidade da pesquisa (Bogosian et al, 2021).…”