Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility: efficacy study

Abstract

Objective: To present and determine the impact of the Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility (MBPI). Design: Controlled clinical trial. Setting: University research unit. Patient(s): Fifty-five infertile women completed the MBPI, and 37 infertile women were assigned to a control group. Intervention(s): The MBPI includes 10 weekly sessions, in a group format, with a duration of about 2 hours each (men attend three sessions). Main Outcome Measure(s): Standardized measures of depression, state anxiety, entrapment, defeat, internal and external shame, experiential avoidance, mindfulness, self-compassion, and infertility self-efficacy were endorsed pre-and post-MBPI. Result(s):The MBPI group and the control group were shown to be equivalent at baseline. By the end of the MBPI, women who attended the program revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, internal and external shame, entrapment, and defeat. Inversely, they presented statistically significant improvement in mindfulness skills and self-efficacy to deal with infertility. Women in the control group did not present significant changes in any of the psychological measures, except for a decrease in self-judgment. Conclusion(s): Increasing mindfulness and acceptance skills, as well as cognitive decentering from thoughts and feelings, seem to help women to experience negative inner states in new ways, decreasing their entanglement with them and thus their psychological distress. Data suggest that the MBPI is an effective psychological intervention for women experiencing infertility.

A prospective study using Hatha Yoga for stress reduction among women waiting for IVF treatment

“…Patients undergoing IVF report high levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety and distress compared with the general population (Chen et al, 2004;Cousineau and Domar, 2007;Galhardo et al, 2013;Mousavi et al, 2013). Infertility-related psychological stress has been divided into 'baseline' stress (acute and chronic) associated with the experience of being infertile, and 'procedural' stress (acute) associated with the treatment procedures themselves (Klonoff-Cohen et al, 2001).…”

“…Ample evidence has shown that the diagnosis of infertility and the process of IVF are stressful (Burns and Covington, 2006;Galhardo et al, 2013;Menning, 1980;Oddens et al, 1999;Wischmann et al, 2001). Stress is defined as a physical, mental, or emotional response to events that cause bodily or mental tension experienced when transactions with the environment exceed the individual capacity of coping (Catherino, 2011;Collins et al, 1992).…”

“…Specific studies have shown an improved effect on wellbeing and IVF outcome, using various interventions such as counselling (Facchinetti et al, 2004), support group sessions (Galhardo et al, 2013), mind-body workshops and relaxation strategies (Domar et al, 2011).…”

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Practice in Infertility

“…Gevşeme, hipnoz, yoga, meditasyon, bilişsel-davranişçi terapiler, grup destekleri, otojenik eğitim, maneviyat, biofeedback ve hayal kurma stratejilerdir (44) . Yapilan bir çaliş-mada 110 infertil kadin 3 gruba ayrilarak gözlenmiştir.…”

Evolution of psychology and counseling in infertility

“…Examples are a one-page preparatory information leaflet to inform men about the semen analysis (39) or an educational DVD to support decision-making regarding single or multiple embryo transfer (41). Third, more interventions have been designed from psychological theories (e.g., cognitive framework of stress and coping [74], acceptance and commitment therapy [75], or mindfulness [32]) and these better specify the causes and outcomes targeted when using those specific interventions. Finally, research is starting to recognize that attention has to be directed toward barriers to dissemination and implementation of interventions (or failure thereof) if the full potential of the available psychological interventions is to be achieved in clinics.…”