Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on depression, emotion regulation, and sleep problems: A randomized controlled trial study on depressed elderly.

Nima Javadzade, Sayed Vahid Esmaeili, Victoria Omranifard, Fatemeh Zargar

Journal: BMC public health 2024;24(1):271

PMID: 38263131

Free Full Text on BioMed Central View on PubMed

Plain Language Summary

Depression and sleep issues are prevalent among elderly people due to cognitive and physical decline in old age which may affect the quality of their life. Psychological therapies such as Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may help to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation and the quality of life in elderly people. This randomised controlled trial included sixty elderly patients with depression residing in nursing homes. After eight MBSR weekly intervention sessions, the elderly participants experienced significant improvement in depression, sleep issues and emotional regulation. Healthcare professionals can use the findings of this study to understand how MBSR can positively impact the psychological well-being of elderly individuals. Further robust studies are required to ensure the generalisability of the MBSR therapeutic strategies.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Entering old age is associated with various physical and psychological disabilities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on emotion regulation and sleep problems in depressed elderly.

METHODS

This study was a clinical trial conducted on 60 elderly individuals with depression using purposive sampling. These elderly were referred by geriatricians and were included in the study based on the inclusion criteria. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group and the control group. Both groups completed the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Gratz and Roemer Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index before and after the intervention. The MBSR sessions were held for the experimental group in 8 sessions of 90 min each, once a week. Finally, all the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26 through descriptive and analytical statistics such as mean and standard deviation, t-tests and mixed analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with repeated measures.

RESULTS

The results showed that the MBSR intervention led to a significant reduction in depression symptoms (p < 0.001) and improvement in emotion regulation and sleep quality (p < 0.001) among the elderly participants with depression in the intervention group.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study showed that MBSR can be effective in reducing depression levels, improving emotion regulation, and sleep quality among depressed elderly individuals compared to the control group. Caregivers and psychotherapists of nursing homes can use care programs such as MBSR program to improve the physical and mental condition of the elderly.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

First Registration: 13/01/2022, Registration Number: IRCT20211118053099N1, Access: https://www.irct.ir/trial/61207 .

Address: Student Research Committee, Department of Health psychology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.; Student Research Committee, Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.; Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Department of Health Psychology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17759-9