Tele-Mindfulness Program for Mental Health in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A quasi-experimental study.

About half of people who had COVID-19 still have symptoms after 12 weeks, a condition called Post-Covid Syndrome, which often includes mental health problems. A 12-week home-based mindfulness program delivered remotely (Tele-MBI) was tested in a quasi-experimental study with 88 previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients, half in the intervention group and half in a control group. Both groups also received other rehabilitation therapies. The mindfulness group showed greater improvements in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, resilience, and self-efficacy compared to the control group, but no difference in perceived quality of life. The program was well accepted and appears effective for improving psychological well-being.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Nearly half of subjects after COVID-19 still experience symptoms after 12 weeks, as described in the Post-Covid Syndrome (PCS). Other than the physical alterations perceived, mental health disorders have been frequently reported. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) showed beneficial effects on psychological well-being in patients with respiratory dysfunctions, but they have been rarely tested in severe COVID-19 survivors. In a quasi-experimental study, test the clinical and psychological effects of a 12-week Tele-MBI in previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients and analyze the feasibility of the intervention. Subjects earlier hospitalized due to COVID-19 were enrolled 12 weeks after the infection onset, they were assigned to the intervention group (TG) or to the control one (n-TG). Subjects enrolled in the TG attended a 12-week home-based T-MBI and patients of both groups received multimodal rehabilitation interventions according to their own therapeutic needs. Mental health (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, sleep quality, self-efficacy, and resilience) and quality of life were detected before and after treatment. The feasibility of the T-MBI applied was also investigated. A total of 88 subjects were included (44 in the TG and 44 in the n-TG; 63.6% males, mean age 64.4 ± 10.6). Most characteristics were similar between groups at the baseline; TG patients showed greater improvements in different psychological metrics (anxiety, depression, PTSD, resilience, and self-efficacy) compared to n-TG while no differences were found for perceived quality of life. T-MBI was well-accepted by patients. Tele-Mindfulness program seems effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and increasing resilience and self-efficacy in subjects who required hospitalization due to COVID-19.