Online mindfulness-based stress reduction improves anxiety and depression status and quality of life in caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders.
Deng'ai Duan, Haiming Wang, Liang Tong, Jingying Ruan, Qizhu Wang, Zhixiang Chen, Ye Ruan, Tianhao Bao
Zhejiang da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences January 31, 2024 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2023-0555
Summary
Caregivers of patients with severe mental illness experienced notable benefits from an 8-week online mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Among the 80 participants analyzed, anxiety and depression scores dropped significantly, with reductions observed in 85% of caregivers. Additionally, overall quality of life improved, as reflected in enhanced scores across various dimensions of the Short Form Health Survey, except for physiological function. This indicates that web-based mindfulness practices can effectively support caregivers grappling with the emotional toll of their responsibilities.
Abstract
To explore the effects of online mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the anxiety and depression status, and quality of life in the caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders. Ninety-three caregivers for patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, who were hospitalized in Yunnan Provincial Mental Hospital in March 2021, were enrolled and randomly divided into control group (n=47) and MBSR intervention group (n=46). Both groups received basic health education and rehabilitation skill training, while the intervention group received additional online MBSR for 8 weeks. The anxiety and depression status, and the quality of life of the caregivers were evaluated by Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) before and 8 weeks after intervention, respectively. Thirteen caregivers dropped out of the study, and 80 subjects (40 in each group) were included in the final analysis. At the baseline, there were no significant differences in SAS, SDS and SF-36 scores between two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the baseline, SAS and SDS scores in the intervention group significantly decreased after 8 weeks of intervention (both P0.05). Except the physiological function dimension, the total score and the scores of each dimension of SF-36 in the intervention group were significantly increased after 8-week intervention (all P0.05). Online MBSR can reduce the anxiety and depression levels, improve the quality of life in the caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders.