Long-term treatment outcomes of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Results of a randomized controlled trial.
Quirine M Bredero, Joke Fleer, Ans Smink, Greetje Kuiken, Joke Potjewijd, Marleen Laroy, Marijn C Visschedijk, Maurice Russel, Mark Van der Lugt, Maarten A C Meijssen, Egbert Jan Van der Wouden, Gerard Dijkstra, Maya J. Schroevers
Journal of Psychosomatic Research December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111949 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 108 |
| Population | Fatigued IBD patients in remission |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Duration | Nine months follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Fatigue Inflammatory bowel disease Long-term effects Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Randomized controlled trial |
| Registration | NCT03162575 |
| Key findings | Reduced fatigue from MBCT was sustained over nine months follow-up, with 29% of patients reporting clinically relevant improvement. |
Abstract
Fatigue is prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission. Previously, we showed that fatigued IBD patients experienced a significant decrease in fatigue after receiving mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). The current study examined to what extent these short-term beneficial effects of MBCT on fatigue were maintained over nine months follow-up, and whether patient characteristics were associated with clinically relevant improvement in fatigue. A randomized controlled trial, including an MBCT and waiting-list control condition, was performed in fatigued IBD patients in remission. For this study, we analysed long-term outcomes of 108 patients who received MBCT (either directly or after three months waiting). The primary outcome was fatigue, assessed with the Checklist Individual Strenght-20. Secondary outcomes included fatigue interference, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. The reduced level of fatigue post-treatment did not change significantly during follow-up (F(2,76) = 1.68, p = 0.19). In total, 29% of patients reported clinically relevant improvement from pre-treatment to nine months follow-up. We found few significant differences in baseline characteristics between those reporting clinically relevant improvement and those not, except that patients who improved were significantly more often unemployed (χ2(1, n = 73) = 4.40, p = 0.04). Secondary outcomes, which did not change significantly during MBCT, also remained stable during follow-up. Findings suggest that reductions in IBD-related fatigue after receiving MBCT are sustained over nine months follow-up, with around one-third of patients reporting clinically relevant improvement from pre-treatment to follow-up. Employment status might be related to improvements in fatigue. Future research is needed to confirm these long-term outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03162575.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- The impact of mindfulness on cancer‐related cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints Cancer January 10, 2023
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in inflammatory bowel disease: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research June 2023
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Fatigue in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Mindfulness 2023
- Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on fatigue and psychological wellbeing in women with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials. Psycho-Oncology November 2022
- Predictors and moderators of outcomes in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention for early breast cancer patients. Palliative & Supportive Care April 2022
and 4 more in the library