Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA).
OBJECTIVE
This study tests the hypothesis that stress reduction methods based on mindfulness meditation can positively influence the rate at which psoriasis clears in patients undergoing phototherapy or photochemotherapy treatment.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients with psoriasis about to undergo ultraviolet phototherapy (UVB) or photochemotherapy (PUVA) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention guided by audiotaped instructions during light treatments, or a control condition consisting of the light treatments alone with no taped instructions. Psoriasis status was assessed in three ways: direct inspection by unblinded clinic nurses; direct inspection by physicians blinded to the patient's study condition (tape or no-tape); and blinded physician evaluation of photographs of psoriasis lesions. Four sequential indicators of skin status were monitored during the study: a First Response Point, a Turning Point, a Halfway Point, and a Clearing Point.


RESULTS
Cox-proportional hazards regression analysis showed that subjects in the tape groups reached the Halfway Point (p = .013) and the Clearing Point (p = .033) significantly more rapidly than those in the no-tape condition, for both UVB and PUVA treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
A brief mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention delivered by audiotape during ultraviolet light therapy can increase the rate of resolution of psoriatic lesions in patients with psoriasis.
Kabat-Zinn
J
J
Stress Reduction Clinic, Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655-0267, USA. jon.kabat-zinn@banyan.ummed.edu
Wheeler
E
E
Light
T
T
Skillings
A
A
Scharf
M J
MJ
Cropley
T G
TG
Hosmer
D
D
Bernhard
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005363:Ficusin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D005363:Ficusin