Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program as an Intervention in Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Three-Armed Randomized Clinical Study

Background: Fibromyalgia is a clinical syndrome with chronic pain, fatigue, and sleep disorders being the main symptoms. There is no commonly accepted efficacious treatment modality. Training in mindfulness meditation or mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR) is based on procedures derived from Buddhist insight meditation and developed into an eight-week structured program by Kabat-Zinn (e.g. 1982, Gen Hosp Psychiat 4:33-47). However, although mindfulness meditation derives from Buddhist practices, the procedures are completely nonesoteric and nonsectarian. In essence, it may be largely characterized in terms of a cognitively and affectively oriented intervention program, and has been shown to produce health benefits in a number of pilot studies, uncontrolled observational studies, and randomized investigations. Promising pilot data are also available for fibromyalgia patients. In a meta-analysis conducted by the PI (principal investigator), clinically important and statistically significant health benefits were found across individuals with a wide range of conditions. Hypotheses: 1. A mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) is effective in improving the quality of life, psychological well-being and diminishing fibromyalgia-related symptoms in chronically ill patients; 2. the mindfulness component of the MBSR, a spiritual-based method, allows the patient to receive the energy of love which is then transformative; 3) the effects of the mindfulness training will be visible in physiologic measurements including autonomic nervous system activity. Method and Results: This is a randomized, controlled, clinical study with the aim of testing the efficacy of an MBSR for fibromyalgia. Because fibromyalgia is almost exclusively a female disorder, the investigation is limited to 180 female, fibromyalgia patients who will be randomized into three groups: Mindfulness training, Active control and Wait-list Control. The main outcome criteria are self-reported and fibromyalgia-specific Quality of Life, and a Biobehavioral Fibromyalgia Index composed of a variety of psychophysiological and behavioral variables. This index will be generated from data parameters of mobility, sleep quality, and cardiovascular well-being. These and other relevant variables (depression score, general QOL, pain quality, anxiety, mindfulness, compliance, and other therapeutic measures) will be assessed at the beginning and end of the training, as well as at 4- and 12-months post-treatment. A primary focus will be assessing whether it is possible to promote psychological well-being through the learning of attentive presence and any resultant affective affirmation. Anticipated Results: MBSR will be proven to be a reliable and efficacious treatment for fibromyalgia as reflected in an improvement in patient reported health variables. It is also expected that a better understanding of the autonomic nervous system in the process of generating and maintaining fibromyalgia will be achieved.