Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training in Enhancing Executive Function and Decreasing Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Mahsa Amiri,Mehdi Rabiei,Vahid Donyavi

doi:10.4236/jbbs.2016.68032

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness training in enhancing executive function and decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis patients. The population in this study consisted of people with MS who referred to Karaj city MS society in 1394. These people didn’t experience medicinal changes during the study period and their expanded disability status score (EDSS) was between 0 and 5.5. 40 of them were randomly selected and placed into two experimental and control groups (20 for the experimental and the other for the control group). The treatment of mindfulness training was held in 8 sessions of group training, once a week and for 2 hours. The statistical method of multivariate analysis of covariance was used. The measurement tools were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). After all, the results in both groups were compared and evaluated by the use of analysis of covariance. The results showed significant differences in symptoms of anxiety and depression between the two groups (p 0.05). Generally, the results of this research showed positive effects of mindfulness training on reducing anxiety and depression among patients with MS and ineffectiveness of mindfulness training on their executive function. Therefore, considering that there is no certain treatment for MS plus results of this study, the application of mindfulness training can be quite useful to reduce levels of anxiety and depression in patients with MS.

Highlights

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that causes axonal damage of the Central Nervous System (CNS)
In addition to psychological symptoms, impaired executive functioning is included in MS symptoms
The results of univariate ANCOVA for comparing dimensions of executive function between the two groups indicated no statistically significant difference. This finding was inconsistent with results of many other studies including a study conducted by Dennison and colleagues [30]

Summary

Introduction

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that causes axonal damage of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Axonal damage is the actual cause of irreversible disabilities in patients with MS [1]. The emergence of anxiety and depression symptoms in MS patients causes recurrence of MS symptoms and makes patients’ improvement more difficult. In addition to psychological symptoms, impaired executive functioning is included in MS symptoms. There are three domains of executive functions: 1) response inhibition; 2) mental task switching; and 3) and control of working memory representations. Executive inhibition includes processes of intentional control or response inhibition in relation to long-term goals that can be assessed through Stroop Paradigms. Task switching includes mental flexibility, maintenance ability and set-shifting [5]

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