Pilot evaluation of a mindfulness-based intervention to improve quality of life among individuals who sustained traumatic brain injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the potential efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction approach to improve quality of life in individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.


METHODS
Pre-post design with drop-outs as controls.


METHODS
We recruited individuals with mild to moderate brain injuries, at least 1 year post-injury. We measured their quality of life, psychological status, and function. Results of 10 participants who completed the programme were compared to three drop-outs with complete data.


METHODS
The intervention was delivered in 12-weekly group sessions. The intervention relied on insight meditation, breathing exercises, guided visualization, and group discussion. We aimed to encourage a new way of thinking about disability and life to bring a sense of acceptance, allowing participants to move beyond limiting beliefs.


RESULTS
The treatment group mean quality of life (SF-36) improved by 15.40 (SD = 9.08) compared to - 1.67 (SD = 16.65; p = 0.036) for controls. Improvements on the cognitive-affective domain of the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) were reported (p = 0.029), while changes in the overall BDI-II (p = 0.059) and the Positive Symptom Distress Inventory of the SCL-90R (p = 0.054) approached statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention was simple, and improved quality of life after other treatment avenues for these participants were exhausted.
Bédard
Michel
M
Department of Psychology, Lakehead University, Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1, Canada. michel.bedard@lakeheadu.ca
Felteau
Melissa
M
Mazmanian
Dwight
D
Fedyk
Karilyn
K
Klein
Rupert
R
Richardson
Julie
J
Parkinson
William
W
Minthorn-Biggs
Mary-Beth
MB
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices