Effects of Stress Reduction Therapy Based on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Emotion Regulation Strategies, Perceived Stress, And Quality of Life of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and patients experience emotional disorders and difficulty in cognitive-emotional regulation during their illness. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of stress reduction therapy based on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on emotion regulation strategies, perceived stress, and life quality of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The participants in this study were 30 people with MS (experimental group: 15, control group: 15) enrolled in MS Soceity of Shiraz located in Fars Province in Iran. The experimental group received 8 sessions of MBSR training, once a week for 90 minutes over 56 days and the control group received no interventions. Results of covariance analysis for the effect of MBSR treatment on emotion regulation strategies showed a significant difference in the variables of self-blame (P=0.001), acceptance (P=0.005), and positive reappraisal (P=0.001) between the experimental and control groups. However, no significant differences observed between the two groups regarding the variables of mental rumination (P=0.54) and adopt a perspective (P=0.72). Results of the present study showed that MBSR therapy increases some dimensions of quality of life and reduces negative emotion regulation strategies and perceived stress. Therefore, this intervention could be useful in MS patients by increasing their health and reducing stress. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 23(4), April 2022: 1-8.