Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA).

Type:Uv phototherapy   Time:2017-10-18 11:14:45
Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with 
moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA).
Kabat-Zinn J1, Wheeler E, Light T, Skillings A, Scharf MJ, Cropley TG, Hosmer D, Bernhard JD.
Author information
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
This study tests the hypothesis that stress reduction methods based on mindfulness meditation can positively influence 
the rate at which psoriasis clears in patients undergoing phototherapy or photochemotherapy treatment.
METHODS:
Thirty-seven patients with psoriasis about to undergo ultraviolet phototherapy (UVB) or photochemotherapy (PUVA) were 
randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention guided by 
audiotaped instructions during light treatments, or a control condition consisting of the light treatments alone with 
no taped instructions. Psoriasis status was assessed in three ways: direct inspection by unblinded clinic nurses; 
direct inspection by physicians blinded to the patient's study condition (tape or no-tape); and blinded physician 
evaluation of photographs of psoriasis lesions. Four sequential indicators of skin status were monitored during the 
study: a First Response Point, a Turning Point, a Halfway Point, and a Clearing Point.
RESULTS:
Cox-proportional hazards regression analysis showed that subjects in the tape groups reached the Halfway Point (p = 
.013) and the Clearing Point (p = .033) significantly more rapidly than those in the no-tape condition, for both UVB 
and PUVA treatments.
CONCLUSIONS:
A brief mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention delivered by audiotape during ultraviolet light 
therapy can increase the rate of resolution of psoriatic lesions in patients with psoriasis.
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