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The impact of a mind–body program on multiple dimensions of resiliency among geographically diverse patients with neurofibromatosis

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Abstract

The neurofibromatoses (NF) are incurable genetic disorders that can cause nerve sheath tumors, chronic pain, and disfiguration. Patients with NF report lower quality of life and greater distress, and may benefit from programs that promote resiliency. To test effects of an 8-week mind–body program (Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF [3RP-NF]) on resiliency, using data derived from a larger randomized controlled trial of the 3RP-NF versus attention placebo control (Vranceanu et al. in Neurology 87:806–814, 2016). Participants (N = 63; 46 female; 52 White) were randomized to 3RP-NF (n = 32, M age = 42.86) or control (n = 31, M age = 39.90), completed intervention sessions via group videoconferencing, and provided self-report measures of resiliency (i.e., perceived coping abilities, perceived social support, gratitude, optimism, spiritual well-being, mindfulness) at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up. All participants attended at least 6/8 sessions and 83% (N = 52) provided 6-month follow-up data. The 3RP-NF (vs. control) produced greater improvements from pre- to post-intervention in perceived coping abilities (M difference = 6.68; p = .008), perceived social support (M difference = 9.16; p = .032), and mindfulness (M difference = 2.23; p = .035), which were maintained at 6-month follow up. We did not observe group differences in spiritual well-being, optimism, or gratitude. The 3RP-NF produced sustained increases in multiple dimensions of resiliency (perceived coping abilities, perceived social support, and mindfulness). Promoting resiliency may be particularly important for a population that is underserved and living with a chronic, incurable illness.

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Funding

This study was fully funded by the Children’s Tumor Foundation through a clinical research grant awarded to Ana-Maria Vranceanu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrated Brain Health Clinical and Research Program, Psychiatry Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Square, 7th floor, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Emily L. Zale, Catherine Pierre-Louis, Eric Riklin & Ana-Maria Vranceanu

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Emily L. Zale, Eric A. Macklin & Ana-Maria Vranceanu

  3. Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Eric A. Macklin

  4. Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA

    Eric Riklin

  5. Integrated Brain Health Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Square, 7th floor, suite 758, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Ana-Maria Vranceanu

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  1. Emily L. Zale
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Correspondence to Ana-Maria Vranceanu.

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Conflict of interest

Emily L. Zale declares that she has no conflict of interest. Catherine Pierre-Louis declares that she has no conflict of interest. Eric A. Macklin declares that he has no conflict of interest. Eric Riklin declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ana-Maria Vranceanu declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Zale, E.L., Pierre-Louis, C., Macklin, E.A. et al. The impact of a mind–body program on multiple dimensions of resiliency among geographically diverse patients with neurofibromatosis. J Neurooncol 137, 321–329 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-017-2720-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-017-2720-5

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