title: The experience of meditation for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their caregivers - a qualitative analysis.
abstract: There is a lack of studies about psychological interventions for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers. We investigated the experience of a meditation training program tailored for ALS needs. People with ALS (pALS) and their caregivers that joined a meditation program for ALS were interviewed at the end of the program. Verbatims were analyzed with a qualitative approach. Both pALS and their caregivers reported a positive impact on their psychological well-being, promoted by an increase in acceptance and non-judgmental attitude. Furthermore, coping strategies seem to improve, with a positive effect on resilience skills. The ALS meditation training program seems to be an effective psychological intervention for the promotion of well-being in pALS and their caregivers.
authors.affiliation: a NEuroMuscularOmnicentre (NEMO) , FondazioneSerena Onlus, OspedaleNiguarda Cà Granda , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: a NEuroMuscularOmnicentre (NEMO) , FondazioneSerena Onlus, OspedaleNiguarda Cà Granda , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gragnano
authors.affiliation: a NEuroMuscularOmnicentre (NEMO) , FondazioneSerena Onlus, OspedaleNiguarda Cà Granda , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lunetta
authors.affiliation: a NEuroMuscularOmnicentre (NEMO) , FondazioneSerena Onlus, OspedaleNiguarda Cà Granda , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.affiliation: a NEuroMuscularOmnicentre (NEMO) , FondazioneSerena Onlus, OspedaleNiguarda Cà Granda , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fabiani
authors.affiliation: c Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliaferri
authors.affiliation: a NEuroMuscularOmnicentre (NEMO) , FondazioneSerena Onlus, OspedaleNiguarda Cà Granda , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: a NEuroMuscularOmnicentre (NEMO) , FondazioneSerena Onlus, OspedaleNiguarda Cà Granda , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Catholic University of Milan , Milan , Italy.|c Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagnini
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; caregivers; meditation; mindfulness; psychological interventions; quality of life