title: Mindfulness training as an intervention for fibromyalgia: evidence of postintervention and 3-year follow-up benefits in well-being.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) proposes a systematic program for reduction of suffering associated with a wide range of medical conditions. Studies suggest improvements in general aspects of well-being, including quality of life (QoL), coping and positive affect, as well as decreased anxiety and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study examined effects of an 8-week MBSR intervention among 58 female patients with fibromyalgia (mean, 52 +/- 8 years) who underwent MBSR or an active social support procedure. Participants were assigned to groups by date of entry, and 6 subjects dropped out during the study. Self-report measures were validated German inventories and included the following scales: visual analog pain, pain perception, coping with pain, a symptom checklist and QoL. Pre- and postintervention measurements were made. Additionally, a 3-year follow-up was carried out on a subgroup of 26 participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre- to postintervention analyses indicated MBSR to provide significantly greater benefits than the control intervention on most dimensions, including visual analog pain, QoL subscales, coping with pain, anxiety, depression and somatic complaints (Cohen d effect size, 0.40-1.10). Three-year follow-up analyses of MBSR participants indicated sustained benefits for these same measures (effect size, 0.50-0.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based upon a quasi-randomized trial and long-term observational follow-up, results indicate mindfulness intervention to be of potential long-term benefit for female fibromyalgia patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Basel Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. grossmanp@uhbs.ch
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tiefenthaler-Gilmer
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raysz
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kesper
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001364:Awareness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology