title: Mindfulness in informal caregivers of palliative patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mindfulness is a concept of growing impact on psychotherapy and has been shown to be effective for stress reduction and to improve psychological well-being. Existential Behavioural Therapy (EBT) was developed to support relatives of palliative care (PC) patients to cope with their situation during caregiving and bereavement. Mindfulness training was a core element of the intervention. We investigated the relationship between mindfulness, mental distress, and psychological well-being in informal caregivers, and evaluated if the effects of the intervention were mediated by mindfulness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relatives of PC inpatients took part in a randomized-controlled EBT trial and completed the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, items from the Five Facets of Mindfulness as well as the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the WHOQOL-BREF, a numerical rating scale on quality of life (range 0-10), and the Schedule for Meaning in Life Evaluation at pre- and post-intervention, and a 3- and 12-months follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred-and-thirty carers were included, most of them (71.6%) recently being bereaved at the beginning of the intervention. High correlations between mindfulness and mental distress (r = -0.51, p < 0.001) as well as life satisfaction (r = 0.52, p < 0.001) were found. Mindfulness was a significant predictor of improvement in psychological distress, meaning in life and quality of life three months after the intervention. The EBT effects were partly mediated by mindfulness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mindfulness seems to be a promising concept in supporting informal caregivers of PC patients. Further research is needed to identify the required format and intensity of mindfulness practice necessary for improvement.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Palliative Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kögler
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Palliative Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandstätter
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Service de Soins Palliatifs, University of Lausanne,Lausanne,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gian Domenico
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Borasio
authors.affiliation: Statistical Consulting Unit, Department of Statistics,Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fensterer
authors.affiliation: Statistical Consulting Unit, Department of Statistics,Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Küchenhoff
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Palliative Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Martin Johannes
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fegg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D005791:Patient Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Psychotherapy