Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Based and Mindfulness-Based Stress Management Program on Activity, Quality of Life and Self-Efficiency of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background and Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease and its prevalence in Iran is estimated to be ۴۰ in ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ people. The psychological manifestations are common in patients with clinical manifestations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of MBRI and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on disease activity, quality of life and self-efficiency among these patients. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, via a pre-test and post-test, ۴۵ patients with lupus in Shahrekord were selected by available sampling method based on American College of Rheumatology criteria and were randomly divided into two experimental and one control groups . Three groups underwent the common medical care. The first group received ۸ sessions of MBSR and the second group received ۸ sessions of CBT. In the pre-test, post-test and ۳-month follow-up, the SF۳۶ quality of life questionnaire, Sherer’s self-efficiency and lupus disease activity index were completed. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistics (variance analysis with repeated measures) were similarly carried out. Results: The mean scores of disease activity in different stages of the study did not differ significantly (P <۰.۰۵). The mean scores of the quality of life in both methods of treatment in the post-test and follow up stage significantly increased compared to the control group and the mean scores of the MBSR group were higher than the CBT group in the post-test and follow-up stages. The mean scores of self-efficiency of patients in both treatment methods showed a significant increase in the post-test and follow-up stages and their effect was similar. Conclusion: Although the psychological interventions did not have much effect on the lupus disease activity,  the CBT interventions, especially MBSR, led to a steady improvement in the quality of life and self-efficiency of the patients.

Keywords:

Systemic lupus erythematosus , Cognitive-behavioral therapy , Mental stress reduction , Quality of life , Self-efficiency