Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic insomnia in adults older than 75 years: a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for chronic insomnia and combined depressive or anxiety symptoms of older adults aged 75 years and over.

Design: A randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial.

Patients and methods: Participants included 60 adults aged 75 years and over with chronic insomnia. Participants were randomly assigned to the eight-week MBSR group or the wait-list control group. Assessments using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-rating Anxiety Sale (SAS), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were taken at baseline and post-treatment. For each outcome measure, a repeated measures analysis of variance was used to detect changes across assessments.

Results: There was a significant time × group interaction for the PSQI global score (P = .006); the MBSR group had a decrease in the PSQI global score (Cohen׳s d = 1.12), while the control group did not (Cohen׳s d = -0.06). Among the PSQI components, there was a significant time × group interaction for daytime dysfunction (P = .048); Cohen׳s d of the MBSR group was 0.76, while Cohen׳s d of control group was -0.04. There was no significant time × group interaction for the SAS score (P = .116), while for the GDS there was a significant time × group interaction (P = .039); the Cohen׳s d value for the MBSR group was 1.20, and it was 0.12 for the control group.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the MBSR program could be a beneficial treatment for chronic insomnia in adults aged 75 years and older.

Keywords: Mindfulness; anxiety; chronic insomnia; depression; old age.