Rheumatoid Arthritis
Conditions
Keywords
rheumatoid arthritis, stress reduction, meditation, mindfulness, MBSR, mindfulness-based stress reduction, mind-body skills
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program is useful in relieving symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALstress reduction program
BEHAVIORALmeditation
Sponsors
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Confirmed diagnosis of RA, with doctor's letter or doctors' bill with ICD code 714; * 18 years of age or older; * Able to read and write English; * Able to attend 15 course sessions and questionnaire sessions at Kernan Hospital in Baltimore; * Willing to practice skills for 45 minutes to 1 hour per day, 6 days a week; * Stable on rheumatoid medications for at least one month.
Exclusion criteria
* Major psychiatric illness (bipolar disorder, multiple personality disorder, etc.); * Active alcoholism or drug dependency; * Scheduled for major surgery during the study period; * Enrolled in randomized clinical trial for rheumatoid arthritis during the study period; * Planning to move out of the area in the next 12 months; * Unwilling to be enrolled in a control group; * Use of assistive device other than a cane; * Serious health condition(s) that the investigator determines would make it difficult to complete the 6 month study; * Diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed