Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Anxiety Sensitivity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that can seriously impact a patient’s functions and quality of life. Mindfulness-based meditation as a clinical intervention can positively affect the emotional and physical states of patients with MS.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the role of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on anxiety sensitivity in patients with MS.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study adopted a pretest-posttest, control group design with follow-up. The statistical population included the women with MS who enrolled in the Tehran MS Society. Convenience sampling was employed to select 30 participants who were assigned randomly to an experimental group and a control group (15 members per group). The experimental group received MBCT (for eight 90-minute sessions), whereas the control group received no interventions. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) was used for data collection, and repeated measures ANCOVA was adopted for data analysis.

Results: The mean age of women was 37.21 ± 5.78 years. Also, the duration of the disease in the participants was 5.81 ± 2.43 years. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the pretest, posttest, and follow-up scores of anxiety sensitivity in the experimental group were101.66 ± 2.63, 93.86 ± 3.11 and 94.00 ± 3.62, respectively, which in the posttest and follow-up was significantly different from the control groups (P < 0.001). The MBCT significantly improved anxiety sensitivity components in the experimental group compared to the control group. This significant difference was also observed during the follow-up period (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The MBCT helped alleviate anxiety sensitivity in women with MS. Therefore, psychotherapists can use MBCT as an effective intervention in improving anxiety sensitivity in women with MS.