Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based therapy for dyspnea in chronic obstructive lung disease.
Richard A Mularski, Brett A Munjas, Karl A Lorenz, Su Sun, Sandra J Robertson, Wendy Schmelzer, Adina C Kim, Paul G Shekelle
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine October 2009 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2009.0037 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 86 |
| Population | Patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), predominantly elderly men with moderate to severe COPD, at an academic-affiliated veterans healthcare system |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based breathing therapy (MBBT) support groups |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Measures | post 6-minute-walk test (6MWT) Borg dyspnea assessment, Short Form-36 for Veterans, 6MWT distance, symptom scores, exacerbation rates, measures of stress and mindfulness |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based breathing therapy produced no measurable improvement in dyspnea or most other outcomes compared with support groups; the post-6-minute-walk Borg dyspnea difference was 0.3 (95% CI: -1.1, 1.7). The only between-group difference favored the support group on the physical summary scale of the Short Form-36 for Veterans (4.3, 95% CI: 0.4, 8.1). The authors suggest this intervention is unlikely to be an important therapeutic option for moderate-to-severe COPD. |
Abstract
Patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) suffer from significant dyspnea and may benefit from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies aimed at mitigating symptoms. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of a mindfulness-based breathing therapy (MBBT) on improving symptoms and health-related quality of life in those with COPD. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of 8-week mindfulness-based breathing therapy (MBBT) compared to support groups to test efficacy on improving symptoms and health-related quality of life in those with COPD. The setting for this study was an academic-affiliated veterans healthcare system. The subjects consisted of 86 patients with COPD. MBBT included weekly meetings practicing mindfulness mediation and relaxation response. The main outcome measure was a post 6-minute-walk test (6MWT) Borg dyspnea assessment. Other outcome measures included health-related quality of life measures, 6MWT distance, symptom scores, exacerbation rates, and measures of stress and mindfulness. Analysis of covariance compared differences in outcomes between groups; paired t test evaluated changes within groups. Participants were predominantly elderly men with moderate to severe COPD. We found no improvements in dyspnea (post 6MWT Borg difference between the MBBT and support group was 0.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.1, 1.7). We found no differences between groups in almost all other outcome measures by either intention-to-treat analysis or within the subset that completed assigned group sessions. For the physical summary scale of the generic Short Form-36 for Veterans, the difference between outcomes favored the support group (4.3, 95% CI: 0.4, 8.1). Participant retention was low compared to mind-body trials that randomize from CAM wait lists. This trial found no measurable improvements in patients with COPD receiving a mindfulness-based breathing CAM therapy compared to a support group, suggesting that this intervention is unlikely to be an important therapeutic option for those with moderate-to-severe COPD.
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
Cited by 24
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RCTs PLoS One April 16, 2015
- A randomized controlled pilot trial of classroom-based mindfulness meditation compared to an active control condition in sixth-grade children. Journal of school psychology June 1, 2014
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Physical Conditions: A Narrative Review Evaluating Levels of Evidence ISRN Psychiatry November 14, 2012
and 19 more in the library
Cites 7
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
and 2 more in the library