Mindfulness Program in Sjögren's Syndrome and Non-Sjögren's Sicca Syndrome Patients: A Pilot Study on Quality of Life and Psychological Distress

Background: Sjo¨gren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease with ocular and oral dryness and a wide spectrum of symptoms leading to psychological distress and reduced quality of life (QoL). Subsequently, emotional disorders increase mucosal dryness by causing pathological vicious cycles. The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate the effect of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) protocol on perceived stress, awareness, mood states, mental and physical health, and discomfort associated with mucosal dryness in patients with primary SS (pSS) and non-Sjo¨gren’s sicca syndrome (nS-SS). Methods: Twenty-one patients with pSS or nS-SS participated in a MBSR program, lasting eight weeks. Patients were assessed by clinimetric tools for health-related QoL (Short Form 36 [SF-36]), fatigue and discomfort (Profile of Fatigue and Discomfort-Short Form), QoL related to oral health (Oral Health Related Quality of Life in Primary Sjo¨gren’s), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]), mindful attention and awareness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), and mood states (Profile of Mood State [POMS]) at the beginning of the study, at the end of the MBSR program, and after a follow-up period. Results: SS patients showed a significant improvement after the MBSR program for mental health measured by the SF-36 scale (P < 0.001), PSS (P < 0.05), and all subscales of POMS (total score, anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension and vigor; P < 0.05). Conclusions: This pilot study shows mindfulness training to be very useful as an additional and effective approach to a multidisciplinary care plan in patients with pSS and nS-SS.