Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Negative Strategies of Emotional Regulation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is one of the diseases of the central nervous system that causes many challenges to the psychological adjustment of the affected patients in coping with stress. In this regard, psychological interventions can be used to reduce stress and negative emotions.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on the negative strategies of emotional cognitive regulation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

This study was conducted by using semi-experimental method with a pre-test and post-test design and with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all people with multiple sclerosis referred to MS association of Neishabour city. Using a convenience sampling method, 47 people were selected and assigned into two experimental and control groups. In the present study, Granofsky, Craig and Spinhaun (2001) Emotional Regulation Questionnaire was used to collect data. Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention was presented in 8 sessions. The present study data were analyzed using SPSS software and analysis of variance with repeated measures.

The results revealed a significant difference between the mean scores of pre-test and post-test (P = 0.001) and between mean scores of post-test and follow-up (P = 0.01). However, no significant difference was observed between the mean scores of pre-test scores and follow-up (P = 0.06).

Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention is effective in reducing negative emotional regulation strategies of MS patients.