title: Mindfulness-based group therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus: A first exploration of a promising mind-body intervention.
abstract: Psychological effects related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are tremendous. While a variety of psychological treatments have been applied to assist SLE patients, the effects of mindfulness practice were never documented in SLE. Mindfulness-based psychotherapy includes several techniques, including body-scan, breathing exercises, and full awareness during daily activities. In this case report, we present a first attempt at conducting mindfulness-based group therapy among SLE patients. Six female SLE patients participated in an 8-week program. Improvement was observed in several areas: patients' increased ability to differentiate between themselves and the disease; increased ability to accept, rather than to actively fight the fact that one must live with the disease; and decreased behavioral avoidance. These observations speak to the significant therapeutic potential of mindfulness practice among SLE patients. With its emphasis on acceptance of negative physical and emotional states, mindfulness practice is a promising treatment option, which needs to be further studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel; Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: Danny.Horesh@biu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Horesh
authors.affiliation: Shahaf Stress Reduction Clinic, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Ittai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Glick
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Renen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taub
authors.affiliation: Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agmon-Levin
authors.affiliation: Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Incumbent of the Laura Schwarz-KipChair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D064866:Mindfulness; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group
keywords: Lupus; Mindfulness; Psychotherapy; Rheumatology