Among 114 adults with neurofibromatosis (NF), a chronic neurogenetic condition that increases risk for poor quality of life, depression, and anxiety, improvements in quality of life were most explained by improved coping, followed by mindfulness and optimism. Improvements in depression and anxiety were most explained by mindfulness, followed by optimism, but were not explained by coping. Targeting mindfulness, coping, and optimism in psychosocial interventions may be a promising way to improve the lives of adults with NF.
A mobile app-delivered mindfulness program for dementia caregivers (Healthy Minds Program for Caregivers) was feasible and acceptable in a pilot randomized trial with 95 participants. Feasibility benchmarks were met for enrollment, retention, and data collection. The intervention improved mindfulness and positive aspects of caregiving with large effects, and changes in these targets correlated with stress reduction. However, improvements in stress, depression, and anxiety were not statistically significant compared with an education podcast control, though trends favored the mindfulness program. A fully powered trial is warranted to test efficacy.