Efficacy of Integrated Online Mindfulness and Self-compassion Training for Adults With Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

ImportanceQuality of life (QOL) of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) is reported to be the lowest among skin diseases. To our knowledge, mindfulness and self-compassion training has not been evaluated for adults with AD.ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness and self-compassion training in improving the QOL for adults with AD.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis randomized clinical trial conducted from March 2019 through October 2022 included adults with AD whose Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score, a skin disease–specific QOL measure, was greater than 6 (corresponding to moderate or greater impairment). Participants were recruited from multiple outpatient institutes in Japan and through the study’s social media outlets and website.InterventionsParticipants were randomized 1:1 to receive eight 90-minute weekly group sessions of online mindfulness and self-compassion training or to a waiting list. Both groups were allowed to receive any dermatologic treatment except dupilumab.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was the change in the DLQI score from baseline to week 13. Secondary outcomes included eczema severity, itch- and scratching-related visual analog scales, self-compassion and all of its subscales, mindfulness, psychological symptoms, and participants’ adherence to dermatologist-advised treatments.ResultsThe study randomized 107 adults to the intervention group (n = 56) or the waiting list (n = 51). The overall participant mean (SD) age was 36.3 (10.5) years, 85 (79.4%) were women, and the mean (SD) AD duration was 26.6 (11.7) years. Among participants from the intervention group, 55 (98.2%) attended 6 or more of the 8 sessions, and 105 of all participants (98.1%) completed the assessment at 13 weeks. The intervention group demonstrated greater improvement in the DLQI score at 13 weeks (between-group difference estimate, −6.34; 95% CI, −8.27 to −4.41; P < .001). The standardized effect size (Cohen d) at 13 weeks was −1.06 (95% CI, −1.39 to −0.74). All secondary outcomes showed greater improvements in the intervention group than in the waiting list group.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this randomized clinical trial of adults with AD, integrated online mindfulness and self-compassion training in addition to usual care resulted in greater improvement in skin disease–specific QOL and other patient-reported outcomes, including eczema severity. These findings suggest that mindfulness and self-compassion training is an effective treatment option for adults with AD.Trial Registrationhttps://umin.ac.jp/ctr Identifier: UMIN000036277