The effect of mindfulness therapy in acromegaly, a pilot study.
Alicia Santos, Chiara Nalin, GianMario Bortolotti, Elisabet Domínguez‐clavé, Gianola Daniela, Liana Cortesi, Marina Pagani, Maria A M Momblan, Ignasi Gich, Susan M Webb, Roberto Trevisan, Eugenia Resmini
Clinical endocrinology March 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14844 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA randomized clinical trial tested an 8-week mindfulness program in 60 patients with acromegaly across two centers (Barcelona and Bergamo). In Barcelona, the intervention group showed increased nighttime hours in bed, reduced pain scores, and improved self-compassion compared to controls. Both centers observed a trend toward reduced time to fall asleep and a significant decrease in heart rate during a single 2-hour session, with a training effect in Bergamo where heart rate fell more in the last session than the first. The findings suggest mindfulness may benefit quality of life, sleep, pain, and physiological measures in acromegaly.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Patients with acromegaly |
| Intervention | Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, single 2-hour session assessed for heart rate |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Acromegaly Quality of life |
| Key finding | A mindfulness program increased nighttime hours in bed, reduced pain scores, improved self-compassion, and decreased heart rate during sessions in patients with acromegaly. |
Abstract
Patients with acromegaly have often several comorbidities, including decreased quality of life, mood alterations and chronic pain. Mindfulness is effective at improving mood, quality of life and pain management; however, there is no data available on its effect in patients with acromegaly. We aimed at evaluating changes in quality of life, mood, pain, sleep, self-compassion, life satisfaction, blood pressure and heart rate after a mindfulness program. This was a randomized, multicentre, international clinical trial (Barcelona-BCN and Bergamo-BG) of 60 patients, 30 per centre. The intervention group participated in an 8-week face-to-face group program; the control group followed normal clinical routine. In BG, patients performed a classic Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program; in BCN they performed an adapted program including elements of mindfulness and compassion with a greater focus on daily life. In the BCN intervention group there was an increase in night-time hours in bed (p = 0.05) after the program. In both centres there was a trend to a reduction of the time to start sleeping (p = 0.06 BCN, p = 0.07 BG). In BCN, the intervention group reduced the pain score compared to the control group (p = .02), and an improvement in self-compassion was found (p = .04). In both centres, heart rate decreased significantly in the intervention group during a single 2-hour session. This was evidenced at the first and the last program session (BCN p = .013 and p = .009; BG < 0.001 and p = .04). A training effect was found in BG, where heart rate fell more in the last session than in the first (p = 002). We have demonstrated for the first time the value of a mindfulness program in patients with acromegaly, analysing possible effects and advantages, and clarifying the usefulness of a specific protocol for the disease.