The Effect of Group Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on the Quality of Life and Fatigue in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered to beone of the most common chronic diseases of the central nervous system. Its chronic nature, no cure being available and its onset at a young age can have a devastating effect on quality of life and fatigue. This research aims to study the effect of group mindfulness-based stress reduction program and conscious yoga on the quality of life and fatigue in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and control group. The sampling method was initially a public call amogst members of the MS Society in Tehran. 24 patients with MS and having the criteria needed for inclusion of the applicants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=12) and control group (n=12).The participants completed MS patients’ quality of life questionnaires (MSQOL-54) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), before and after treatment. The experimental group was treated in 8 sessions of group mindfulness-based stress reduction program (for 2 hours each session). Data was analyzed using covariance single variable and SPSS 21. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference amogst the mean scores of some subscales of the quality of life including physical functioning, role in relation to physical and mental energy, mental well-being, health threats, perceived health, satisfaction with sexual function, quality of life and fatigue test and control groups (P<0/05).  Conclusion: The results showed that the program of reduction of consciousness-based stress is effective in reducing fatigue and increasing some of the subscales of quality of life in MS patients. Therefore, it can be concluded that if such interventions are applied to patients with chronic illnesses such as MS in addition to medical therapies, their illness can be reduced by changing perceptions of patients from their long-term illness.