ASSESSING THE EFFICACY OF MINDFULNESS-BASED INTERVENTION FOR ANXIETY MANAGEMENT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the effect of an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention on anxiety symptoms among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methodology: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Multan, over four months, from May 2026 to August 2026 following approval of the synopsis by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP). A total of 37 patients aged 18–65 years with rheumatoid arthritis and anxiety were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients receiving psychological treatment, with a history of other mental health disorders, or with physical limitations preventing participation in mindfulness sessions were excluded. Participants received eight weekly MBSR sessions of 60–90 minutes, including mindful breathing, body scanning, gentle stretching, and guided meditation. Home practice for 15–20 minutes daily was encouraged. Anxiety was assessed at baseline and after eight weeks using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, and a paired t-test was used for pre- and post-intervention comparison. Results: Among the 37 participants, the mean age was 46.8 ± 10.2 years, and 24 (64.9%) were females. Twenty-one (56.8%) participants had moderate disease severity, while 16 (43.2%) had severe disease. The mean GAD-7 score decreased from 7.7 ± 5.3 at baseline to 4.5 ± 3.6 after the eight-week MBSR intervention, representing a mean reduction of 3.2 points and an approximately 41.6% reduction in anxiety scores. The reduction was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: An eight-week MBSR intervention was associated with a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. MBSR may be considered a useful adjunctive non pharmacological approach for managing psychological distress in patients with RA. Larger randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are recommended.