Design and Methods for a Pilot Study of a Phone-Delivered, Mindfulness-Based Intervention in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher, James Carmody, Gloria Y Yeh, Sybil L. Crawford, Lawrence Rosenthal, Ira S. Ockene
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012 DOI: 10.1155/2012/972106 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial (pilot study) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | Clinically stable outpatients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) within a month of an ICD-related procedure or shock |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, assessments at baseline and 9-12 weeks after randomization |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Intervention counseling Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator Distress Randomization Randomized controlled trial Physical therapy Emergency medicine Nursing Clinical psychology Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key findings | The paper describes the design and methods of a pilot study testing the feasibility of a phone-delivered mindfulness-based intervention for anxiety in ICD patients; no results are reported. |
Abstract
Background. Meditation practices are associated with a reduction in adrenergic activity that may benefit patients with severe cardiac arrhythmias. This paper describes the design and methods of a pilot study testing the feasibility of a phone-delivered mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for treatment of anxiety in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Design and Methods. Consecutive, clinically stable outpatients (n = 52) will be screened for study eligibility within a month of an ICD-related procedure or ICD shock and will be randomly assigned to MBI or to usual care. MBI patients will receive eight weekly individual phone sessions based on two mindfulness practices (awareness of breath and body scan) plus home practice with a CD for 20 minutes daily. Patients assigned to usual care will be offered the standard care planned by the hospital. Assessments will occur at baseline and at the completion of the intervention (between 9 and 12 weeks after randomization). The primary study outcome is feasibility; secondary outcomes include anxiety, mindfulness, and number of administered shocks during the intervention period. Conclusions. If proven feasible and effective, phone-delivered mindfulness-based interventions could improve psychological distress in ICD outpatients with serious cardiovascular conditions.