Effect of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Intervention on the Psychological Health of Women With Hypertension

Objective :

Hypertension is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence. Psychological health problems can lead to the exacerbation of hypertension. This study aims to assess the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the psychological health of adult women with hypertension. 

Methods :

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2019 on 80 women with hypertension in Isfahan, Iran who were randomly assigned to two groups of intervention and control. The intervention group received MBSR at 8 two-hour sessions, once a week, followed by 4 weeks of training at home. The control group received routine care. The psychological health of patients in both groups was evaluated before and one week after the intervention using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale–21 items (DASS-21). The data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 24 using paired t-test, independent t-test, and multivariate analysis of covariance.

Results:

 The mean age of the patients was 55.45±6.19 years. In the intervention group, the mean post-test scores of depression, anxiety, and stress were 11.64±3.4, 10.78±2.72, and 11.75±2.94 respectively, which were significantly lower than in the control group (11.97±2.85, 11.62±2.37, and 12.75±2.86 respectively; P<0.05).

Conclusion:

 The MBSR, as a low-cost therapeutic method without complications, is effective in improving the psychological health (reducing depression, anxiety, and stress) of hypertensive women in Iran.