Mindfulness‐based program for stress reduction in infertile women: Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Infertile women often experience chronic stress, which may have a negative impact on general well‐being and may increase the burden of infertility. In this open‐label, parallel, randomized controlled trial, infertile women aged 18–50 years (median 37 years) were assigned to an 8‐week mindfulness‐based program (MBP) or no intervention. The primary outcome was stress severity measured by the Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory (ISSL). Data were analyzed by modified intent‐to‐treat principle, which included all cases available to follow‐up regardless of adherence to the intervention (62 participants from the MBP group and 37 from the control group). The median number of symptoms of chronic stress recorded in the past month decreased from six (interquartile range 2 to 9) before the MBP to two (interquartile range 1 to 4) after the intervention (p < 0.001, repeated measures analysis of variance with Time × Group interaction). Depressive symptoms also decreased after MBP, whereas general well‐being improved (p < 0.01 for both outcomes). Hair cortisol and serum brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) did not change significantly between preintervention and postintervention. None of the outcomes changed significantly in the control group. MBP was effective in reducing stress and depressive symptoms while increasing general well‐being in infertile women.

The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Group Therapy on Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and the Intolerance of Uncertainty in Infertile Women

“…The collected results suggested that MBSR is effective on anxiety, depression, the stress in infertile women receiving IVF; however, it had no significant effect on IU in the studied females. The obtained data concerning the effectiveness of this treatment on anxiety, depression, and stress were consistent with the study of Li [4], Baer [18], Dembinska [19], Aslzaker [11], and Nery [13]. Theorists have suggested that MBSR may decrease the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression by adjusting emotion regulation skills [20].…”

“…The cut-off points of anxiety, depression, and stress were reported as 7, 9, and 14, respectively [14]. In Sahebi's study, the reliability of this tool for depression, anxiety, and stress were reported 0.77, 0.79, and 0.78, respectively [13].…”

“…In Bakhtiari's study, the content validity of the translated version of the tool was established by three professors of Psychology. Additionally, the testretest reliability coefficient of this tool with an interval of one week was calculated as 87%[13].The 21-item Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Scale (DASS-21)…”

Contemplative mental training reduces hair glucocorticoid levels in a randomized clinical trial

“…This may explain why previous studies found no HC reductions after the typical 8-12 weeks of mindfulness-based training (e.g. Gotink et al, 2017;Nery et al, 2019), with the exception of one pilot study with 18 smokers (Goldberg et al, 2014).…”

The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials

“…Of 11 included studies, five (Ikai et al, 2014 ; Naveen et al, 2016 , Tolahunase et al, 2017 ; Sungkarat et al, 2018 ) and three (Fox et al, 2014 ; Gagrani et al, 2018 ; Nery et al, 2019 ) studies are parallel RCTs applying exercise-MBI and meditation-MBI, respectively. These eight studies had a follow-up duration between 8 and 36 weeks.…”