Comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction versus cognitive-behavioral therapy on emotion regulation, mindfulness, and cognitive-executive functions in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Emad Alkasir, Abbas Masjedi-Arani, Fatemeh Jafarian Dehkordi, Amir Sam Kianimoghadam, Behrooz Afshari, Shafigheh Yousefi
Journal of education and health promotion January 1, 2025 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1917_23 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA clinical trial with 96 rheumatoid arthritis patients compared mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) against a control group. Both treatments significantly improved emotion regulation, mindfulness, and cognitive-executive functions. MBSR produced greater gains in emotion regulation and mindfulness, while CBT yielded larger improvements in cognitive-executive functions. These results suggest that both therapies are effective for addressing psychological difficulties in rheumatoid arthritis, with each offering distinct benefits.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 96 |
| Population | Patients with rheumatoid arthritis referred to a rheumatology clinic |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Cognitive-behavioral therapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive-behavioral therapy Cognitive-executive functions Emotion regulation Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | MBSR and CBT both significantly improved emotion regulation, mindfulness, and cognitive-executive functions in rheumatoid arthritis patients, with MBSR showing greater benefits for emotion regulation and mindfulness, and CBT for cognitive-executive functions. |
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis affects physical and mental health; it brings psychological consequences such as dysfunctions in emotion regulation and cognitive-executive functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) versus cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on emotion regulation, mindfulness, and cognitive-executive functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This study was a clinical trial with two intervention groups and one control group. The number of 96 patients referred to the rheumatology clinic was selected using random sampling and divided into two intervention groups and a control group. In this study, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Stroop task, Tower of London task, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Task were used at baseline, posttest, and follow-up. Data were analyzed by SPSS22 using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements. The findings showed that MBSR and CBT have significant effects on mindfulness (P > 001), emotion regulation (P > 001), and cognitive-executive functions (P > 001). Specifically, MBSR led to greater improvements in emotion regulation and mindfulness, while CBT led to greater improvement in cognitive-executive functions. MBSR and CBT can be used as effective treatments to improve emotion regulation, mindfulness, and cognitive-executive functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.