Mindfulness-Based Therapy in the Management of Tinnitus

Mindfulness-based interventions are one of the recent techniques that have proven to be very useful in tinnitus management. Mindfulness therapy refers to experiencing the present, which helps control the attention system, which significantly contributes to getting relief from the adverse reactions due to tinnitus. Several systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials report relief from tinnitus perception even with the heterogeneity of the patients with mindfulness therapy. The different study designs and outcome measures reported similar results suggesting the efficacy of mindfulness-based training. Thus, psychologists and audiologists dealing with individuals suffering from tinnitus can attempt this technique in management. The mindfulness-based training can be combined with formal Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) approaches to enhance tinnitus treatment.

Preliminary Efficacy of an mHealth Mindfulness Intervention With Caregivers of Older Adults With MCI or Dementia

Decades of research have documented the negative effects of caregiving on unpaid caregivers. Caregivers are more likely to suffer from high levels of stress and anxiety, and caregivers of older adults with dementia are at especially high risk. Mindfulness Therapy (MT) is a promising, non-pharmacological technique with proven efficacy and effectiveness in managing stress and anxiety in diverse populations. Mindfulness Coach is an m-health delivered mindfulness therapy intervention developed by the Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD. The objective of this paper is to report the preliminary efficacy of an 8-week pilot trial of mHealth-delivered mindfulness therapy to alleviate anxiety and caregiver stress in caregivers of persons with dementia. Sixty caregivers of patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia were recruited to participate in this single group pre-post design study. After receiving an orientation to using the app, participants were instructed to use the app daily to learn about and practice mindfulness skills. At the end of the 8 weeks, there was a significant reduction between baseline anxiety on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety subscale (mean = 14.45, SD = 3.36) 15.42, SD = 3.12) and 8 weeks (mean = (t(55)=2.6, p=.012) and perceived stress measured by the perceived stress scale at baseline (mean = 23.59, SD = 3.99) and 8 weeks (mean = 21.12, SD = 3.09), (t(56)=5.94, p<.001). This study offers preliminary evidence that mHealth Mindfulness Therapy strategies may help caregivers manage the stress and anxiety associated with caregiving.

Adjunctive Telehealth Mindfulness Therapy for Persons With Dementia and Their Caregivers in the Rural Deep South

The emotional care needs of persons with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers are multitudinous. Multicomponent interventions may be necessary to meet their multiple needs. Mindfulness interventions have a positive impact on well-being but are often only offered as a stand-alone treatment and typically are available only to the caregiver. This presentation will describe a telephone-delivered adjunctive mindfulness intervention that was offered to caregivers and dyads in conjunction with care consultation. Participants were 26 caregivers and 22 PwD living in the Deep South. The adjunctive mindfulness therapy included four core sessions and an additional five sessions that were optional. Mindfulness was deemed to be a “good fit” for almost 75% of the sample. Duration of mindfulness sessions ranged from 30 to 65 minutes. Participants attended more sessions as a dyad (M=10.10) compared to caregivers alone (M=6.5). Information regarding attendance and treatment engagement will be presented.

Modern approaches to the treatment of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) occurs in 5–12% of patients but is relatively rarely diagnosed, so most patients do not receive adequate treatment. The review analyses pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of FM treatment. Data suggests that antidepressants (duloxetine, milnacipran, amitriptyline) and antiepileptics (pregabalin, gabapentin) are most effective. Among non-pharmacological methods, the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness therapy, kinesiotherapy, and biofeedback has been shown. In the management of patients with FM, a combination of non-pharmacological methods and medications can reduce pain and improve the quality of life.

Video-delivered emotion-focused mindfulness therapy for late- life anxiety: study protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial

Background The worldwide prevalence of anxiety in older adults is estimated at between 6 and 10%. In Canada, adults 65 and older experience anxiety at a rate of 6.4%, affecting more than 300,000 people. Anxiety in older adults has been linked to difficulties retaining new information and engaging in instrumental daily activities of living. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, novel methods of delivering therapy programs remotely are needed; however, data is limited. There is some evidence that older adults prefer non-pharmacological approaches for anxiety that can be delivered in the community. Emotion-focused mindfulness therapy (EFMT) is a mindfulness-based intervention that emphasizes meditation and observing thoughts and emotions as they arise. This emphasis has been demonstrated to reduce symptoms of anxiety in general populations. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of EFMT with older adults. Methods This pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial will use a wait list control trial design. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will use telehealth delivery via Zoom rather than in-person delivery. The first 48 people to meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly allocated to either receive EFMT immediately, or in approximately 8 weeks time from enrollment (1:1 allocation ratio). Data will be collected at baseline, 8 weeks following baseline, and 16 weeks following baseline. The primary outcomes will determine the feasibility of the intervention based on recruitment, enrolment, retention, and adherence to all components of the intervention. The secondary outcome will be changes to anxiety over time. Discussion The results of this trial will determine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of video-delivered EFMT for late-life anxiety compared to no treatment. If the results are promising, a larger randomized controlled trial may be conducted. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04415528. Registered on June 4, 2020 Protocol version Protocol version 2, January 2, 2021

Effect of Mindfulness Therapy and Aromatherapy Massage on Pain Perception, Quality of Life and Sleep Quality in Older Women With Chronic Pain

Objectives: Aging is one of the phenomena in the field of global health. It is very important to pay attention to older adults psychologically and physically. This study aims to evaluate the effect of mindfulness therapy combined with aromatherapy massage on the psychological functions of older women with chronic pain. Methods & Materials: This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, follow-up design using a control group. The study population consists of all older women with chronic pain referred to hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers in the west of Tehran, Iran in 2017. By using a convenience sampling method, 30 women were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly divided into two matched groups. The intervention group underwent mindfulness group therapy plus aromatherapy massage at ten 120-min sessions while the control group received no intervention. Their pain perception, sleep quality, and quality of life as psychological functions were evaluated at baseline, at the end of intervention and 45 days later. Collected data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance method in SPSS v. 19 software. Results: The mindfulness therapy/aromatherapy massage significantly reduced the pain perception and its components and improved quality of life and sleep quality in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.05), and these effects remained stable in the follow-up phase. Conclusion: mindfulness therapy combined with aromatherapy massage improves the quality of life and sleep and reduces chronic pain in older women. It can be used as an effective intervention for improving general health and quality of life in older patients with chronic pain.

Studi pendekatan terapi psikologis untuk kesehatan mental masyarakat pada masa pandemic Covid-19

Berbagai dampak psikologis di masyarakat akibat Covid-19 merupakan tantangan bagi para ahli psikologi untuk menerapkan teori ke dalam praktik-praktik terapi. Berbagai teori pendekatan terapi, strategi, teknik menyajikan berbagai asumsi kemanjurannya dalam mengatasi problema psikologis masyarakat sebagai akibat wabah ini.Hasil penelitian mendeskripsikan bahwa: (a) Pandemi ini memicu gangguan emosional, perilaku, bahkan gangguan fisiologis. Permasalahan psikologis yang ditemukan dari analisis artikel antara lain: yaitu stres, kecemasan, gejala depresi, insomnia, kemarahan, ketakutan global, stigmatisasi, obsesif kompulsif, psikosomatis, serta bias kognitif. (b) Merujuk pada berbagai persoalan itu para penulis artikel ini menerapkan terapi-terapi yang meliputi: psikodinamika, terapi perilaku, terapi kognitif perilaku, terapi client centered, mindfulness therapy, terapi naratif. Sedangkan strategi ataupun teknik terapi yang ditemukan dari analisis artikel ini meliputi: asosiasi bebas, coping stress, disensitisasi, narasi, cognitive restructuring, serta modeling perilaku.

Video-Delivered Emotion-Focused Mindfulness Therapy for late- life anxiety: Study Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial During COVID-19

Background: The worldwide prevalence of anxiety in older adults is estimated at between 6% and 10%. In Canada, adults 65 and older experience anxiety at a rate of 6.4%, affecting more than 300,000 people. Anxiety in older adults has been linked to difficulties retaining new information and engaging in instrumental daily activities of living. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, novel methods of delivering therapy programs remotely are needed, however data is limited. There is some evidence that older adults prefer non-pharmacological approaches for anxiety that can be delivered in the community. Emotion-Focused Mindfulness Therapy (EFMT) is a mindfulness-based intervention that emphasizes meditation and observing thoughts and emotions as they arise. This emphasis has been demonstrated to reduce symptoms of anxiety in general populations. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of EFMT with older adults.Methods: This pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial will use a wait list control trial design. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will use telehealth delivery via Zoom rather than in-person delivery. The first 48 people to meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly allocated to either receive EFMT immediately, or in approximately eight weeks time from enrollment (1:1 allocation ratio). Data will be collected at baseline, eight weeks following baseline, and sixteen weeks following baseline. The primary outcomes will determine the feasibility of the intervention based on recruitment, enrolment, retention and adherence to all components of the intervention. The secondary outcome will be changes to anxiety over time.Discussion: The results of this trial will determine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of video-delivered EFMT for late-life anxiety compared to no treatment. If the results are promising, a larger randomized controlled trial may be conducted.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04415528. Registered on June 4, 2020Protocol version: Protocol version 2, January 2, 2021