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Effects of Brief Mindfulness‑Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on Health‑Related Quality of Life and Sense of Coherence in Atrial Fibrillation Patients
Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a brief dyadic cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as well as the sense of coherence in atrial fibrillation patients,up to 12 months post atrial fibrillation.
Methods
A longitudinal randomised controlled trial with a pre and 12-month post-test recruitment of 163 persons and their spouses, at a county hospital in southern Sweden. In all, 104 persons were randomly assigned to either a CBT (n=56) or a treatment as usual (TAU) group (n=55). The primary outcome was changes in the HRQoL (Euroqol questionnaire;EQ-5D), and the secondary outcomes were changes in psychological distress (hospital anxiety and depression scale;HADS) and sense of coherence (sense of coherence scale; SOC-13).
Results
At the 12-month follow-up, the CBT group experienced a higher HRQoL than the TAU group (mean changes in the CBT group 0.062 vs. mean changes in the TAU group −0.015; P=0.02). The sense of coherence improved in the CBT group after the 12-month follow-up, compared to the TAU group (mean changes in the CBT group 0.062 vs. mean changes in the TAU group −0.16; P=0.04). The association between the intervention effect and the HRQoL was totally mediated by the sense of coherence (z=2.07, P=0.04).
Conclusions
A dyadic mindfulness-based CBT programme improved HRQoL and reduced psychological distress up to 12 months post atrial fibrillation. The sense of coherence strongly mediated the HRQoL; consequently, the sense of coherence is an important determinant to consider when designing programmes for atrial fibrillation patients.