title: A controlled study of the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction technique in women with multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on women diagnosed with conditions such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and fibromyalgia (FM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention group underwent a 10-week MBSR program. Symptoms Checklist Inventory (SCL-90R) was used as outcome measure and was administered before the start of the program (pre-), immediately upon completion (post-) and at three-month follow-up. Women on the wait list to receive treatment at the Nova Scotia Environmental Health Centre were used as control subjects for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 50 participants in the intervention group and 26 in the wait-list controls group were recruited for this study. Global scores in the intervention group reached statistical significance pre-post (<0.0001) and at pre-follow-up (<0.0001) while the global scores in the control group remained the same. Five of nine and eight of nine subscales of the SCL-90R showed improvement of statistical significance in MBSR group following treatment and at three-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed the importance of complementary interventions such as MBSR techniques in the reduction of psychological distress in women with chronic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Nova Scotia Environmental Health Centre, Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada;
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sampalli
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berlasso
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petter