Abstract Title:

Meditation training for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their caregivers.

Abstract Source:

J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Apr ;20(4):272-5. Epub 2013 Dec 11. PMID: 24328393

Abstract Author(s):

Francesco Pagnini, Chiara Di Credico, Ramona Gatto, Viviana Fabiani, Gabriella Rossi, Christian Lunetta, Anna Marconi, Federica Fossati, Gianluca Castelnuovo, Aurora Tagliaferri, Paolo Banfi, Massimo Corbo, Valeria Sansone, Enrico Molinari, Gherardo Amadei

Article Affiliation:

Francesco Pagnini

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that is clinically characterized by progressive weakness leading to death by respiratory insufficiency, usually within three years. Although the patient's intellect and personality usually remain unimpaired, as the disease progresses, the patient becomes immobile, develops wasting, and speech becomes impaired, often resulting in social isolation and a high degree of psychological suffering. Mindfulness meditation has proven to be effective technique for reducing distress in many chronic diseases. However, to date, no study has investigated the effect of mindfulness meditation on patients with ALS.

DESIGN: A mindfulness meditation training program for ALS patients needs to consider the particularities of ALS symptoms, including the loss of muscular functions and difficulties in respiration, together with the subsequent emotional impairments. With these caveats in mind, a modified protocol, based on original mindfulness meditation interventions, has been created specifically for the ALS population. This article describes the protocol and preliminary results.

Study Type : Commentary

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