Mindfulness-based program for stress reduction in infertile women: Randomized controlled trial.
Simone F Nery, Sara P C Paiva, Érica L Vieira, Andressa B Barbosa, Edna M Sant'Anna, Maira Casalechi, Cynthia Dela Cruz, Antonio L Teixeira, Fernando M Reis
Stress and Health October 16, 2018 DOI: 10.1002/smi.2839 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open-label, parallel, randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 99 |
| Population | Infertile women aged 18-50 years (median 37 years) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based program (MBP) |
| Duration | 8-week program |
| Measures | Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory (ISSL), hair cortisol, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Hair Humans Infertility, female Hydrocortisone Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Treatment outcome Stress, psychological Quality of life Adolescent Middle aged Brazil Young adult Surveys and questionnaires Bdnf Cortisol |
| Key findings | The 8-week mindfulness-based program reduced the median number of chronic stress symptoms in the past month from six to two and also decreased depressive symptoms and improved general well-being, while hair cortisol and serum BDNF did not change significantly; none of the outcomes changed significantly in the control group. |
Abstract
Infertile women often experience chronic stress, which may have a negative impact on general well-being and may increase the burden of infertility. In this open-label, parallel, randomized controlled trial, infertile women aged 18-50 years (median 37 years) were assigned to an 8-week mindfulness-based program (MBP) or no intervention. The primary outcome was stress severity measured by the Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory (ISSL). Data were analyzed by modified intent-to-treat principle, which included all cases available to follow-up regardless of adherence to the intervention (62 participants from the MBP group and 37 from the control group). The median number of symptoms of chronic stress recorded in the past month decreased from six (interquartile range 2 to 9) before the MBP to two (interquartile range 1 to 4) after the intervention (p < 0.001, repeated measures analysis of variance with Time × Group interaction). Depressive symptoms also decreased after MBP, whereas general well-being improved (p < 0.01 for both outcomes). Hair cortisol and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) did not change significantly between preintervention and postintervention. None of the outcomes changed significantly in the control group. MBP was effective in reducing stress and depressive symptoms while increasing general well-being in infertile women.