Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on negative emotions in elderly patients with chronic heart failure

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on the negative emotions in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Methods A total of 148 cases of elderly patients with chronic heart failure undergoing standard medication therapy for heart failure from February 2015 to February 2016 in the Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were recruited and divided in to experimental group (n=72) and control group (n=76) randomly. The patients of the control group were given health education, which on the basis of health education, the patients of the experimental group received MBSR training. After eight weeks of training, the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH) were applied for patients' anxiety, depression and happiness in the two groups. Results After MBSR training, the scores of SAS, SDS and the negative score of MUNSH decreased in the experimental group (t=9.07, 2.59, 1.87; P<0.05). The positive and total score of MUNSH increased in the experimental group (t=4.19, 3.49; P<0.05). Conclusions MBSR training can improve anxiety, depression and subjective happiness in elderly patients with heart failure. Key words: Anxiety; Depression; Chronic heart failure; Mindfulness-based stress reduction; Subjective happiness