THE EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF BURN PATIENTS: A CLINICAL TRIAL

Background &

Aim: Burn injuries significantly impact the quality of life of survivors, often causing psychological distress and spiritual challenges. Given that psychological factors influence quality of life, employing psychological therapies in this context is essential. Among these, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been proposed as a promising intervention to address these challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of MBCT on the quality of life of burn patients attending Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia. Materials &

Methods: This quasi-experimental study, using a pretest-posttest control group design, was conducted with 60 burn patients at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia. After obtaining ethical approval and registering the study, participants were randomly assigned to either the control group (n = 30) or the intervention group (n = 30). The intervention group received MBCT training over eight two-hour sessions, while the control group received routine care. Data were collected before the intervention using demographic and specialized burn quality-of-life questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed and collected from both groups immediately after the sessions and four weeks post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results : The ANOVA statistical test revealed no significant difference in overall quality-of-life scores between the control and intervention groups before the intervention (P > 0.05), indicating comparable baseline quality of life. However, immediately after the intervention and one month after intervention, a significant improvement in overall quality-of-life scores was observed in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). These findings demonstrate that MBCT effectively enhanced quality-of-life scores in the intervention group. Conclusions : Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is an effective intervention for improving the quality of life of patients with burn injuries. The findings suggest that integrating MBCT into burn rehabilitation programs can support psychological recovery and enhance patients' quality of life. Furthermore, MBCT can effectively reduce depression, anxiety, and rumination while improving social relationships and sleep quality.