title: Mindfulness-based stress reduction in patients with interstitial lung diseases: a pilot, single-centre observational study on safety and efficacy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic, progressive respiratory symptoms are associated with great psychological and emotional impact in patients suffering from interstitial lung disease (ILD). This single-centre pilot study evaluated for the first time the safety, feasibility and efficacy of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) in a group of patients with ILD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study set in a university hospital ILD outpatient clinic. Nineteen patients with different ILDs were recruited 2 months prior to the start of the 8-week MBSR program and followed up for 12 months. Primary outcomes were program safety and feasibility, while secondary outcomes were changes in moods and stress (assessed by Profile Of Mood State (POMS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaires), symptoms (Shortness Of Breath (SOB) and Cough And Sputum Assessment (CASA-Q) questionnaires), lung function and exercise tolerance at 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients (10.5%) dropped out in the observational period before the start of the MBSR intervention because of non-respiratory causes. All 17 patients who entered the 8-week MBSR program managed to complete it with an adherence average of eight sessions of nine. No adverse events related to the mindfulness training were reported. Statistically significant improvements in the POMS total score and in several individual items of POMS and PSS were observed throughout the study. However, respiratory questionnaire scores, lung function and exercise tolerance did not show a significant difference over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An MBSR program appears to be safe and feasible in patients with ILD, and might affect perceived moods and stress producing a positive and lasting improvement in several stress-related negative domains. These findings pave the way to larger (possibly multicentre), randomised, controlled confirmatory trials.
authors: Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit , University Hospital Southampton , Southampton , UK.
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: Sgalla
authors: Center for Rare Lung Disease, University Hospital Policlinico di Modena , Modena , Italy .
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Cerri
authors: Asia Study Center, Associazione Asia, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Ferrari
authors: A.U.S.L. of Modena , Modena , Italy.
authors: Maria Pia
authors: MP
authors: Ricchieri
authors: FISSPA Department , Section of Applied Psychology, Padua University , Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Poletti
authors: Center for Rare Lung Disease, University Hospital Policlinico di Modena , Modena , Italy .
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Ori
authors: Center for Rare Lung Disease, University Hospital Policlinico di Modena , Modena , Italy .
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Garuti
authors: Center for Rare Lung Disease, University Hospital Policlinico di Modena , Modena , Italy .
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Montanari
authors: Center for Rare Lung Disease, University Hospital Policlinico di Modena , Modena , Italy .
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Luppi
authors: Hospital Direction, University Hospital Policlinico di Modena , Modena , Italy.
authors: Kyriakoula
authors: K
authors: Petropulacos
authors: Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit , University Hospital Southampton , Southampton , UK.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Richeldi
keywords: Interstitial Fibrosis; Rare lung diseases