A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis
Background: Fatigue is a common long-term problem after illnesses affecting the brain, having substantial impact on work ability, social activities, and quality of life. Treatment has been requested in the healthcare and by patients. The aim of this randomized pilot study is to evaluate a new Brain...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2025.2502039 |
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| author | Gustaf Glavå Lars Rönnbäck Birgitta Johansson |
| author_facet | Gustaf Glavå Lars Rönnbäck Birgitta Johansson |
| author_sort | Gustaf Glavå |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Fatigue is a common long-term problem after illnesses affecting the brain, having substantial impact on work ability, social activities, and quality of life. Treatment has been requested in the healthcare and by patients. The aim of this randomized pilot study is to evaluate a new Brain Fatigue and Mindfulness program (BF-M) for participants suffering from long-term fatigue after an acquired brain injury or Multiple Sclerosis. BF-M consists of six biweekly group meetings. Meditation is practiced, knowledge is imparted about fatigue and participants have time to share and discuss common issues.Methods: A mixed method research design is used with quantitative and qualitative methods. Sixteen participants completed BF-M and 16 controls on waitlist responded to questionnaires before and after the intervention.Results: After the program, the BF-M group had a significant reduction in BF and anxiety compared to the controls. The analysis of 13 interviews with BF-M participants suggested that: (1) BF-M became a space for the participants to exchange and share experiences associated with BF; (2) the participants felt more understood and less alone; and (3) they learned how to better understand and live with brain fatigue.Conclusions: This study showed that BF-M may reduce brain fatigue and help participants to better manage their difficulties. Based on this pilot study, we suggest that BF-M may be considered as a rehabilitation option for brain fatigue. However, more confirmatory research with larger and different patient groups is needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-68bafc510c844604959f26f09eca9ef4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2164-2850 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-68bafc510c844604959f26f09eca9ef42025-08-20T02:16:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHealth Psychology and Behavioral Medicine2164-28502025-12-0113110.1080/21642850.2025.2502039A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosisGustaf Glavå0Lars Rönnbäck1Birgitta Johansson2Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenBackground: Fatigue is a common long-term problem after illnesses affecting the brain, having substantial impact on work ability, social activities, and quality of life. Treatment has been requested in the healthcare and by patients. The aim of this randomized pilot study is to evaluate a new Brain Fatigue and Mindfulness program (BF-M) for participants suffering from long-term fatigue after an acquired brain injury or Multiple Sclerosis. BF-M consists of six biweekly group meetings. Meditation is practiced, knowledge is imparted about fatigue and participants have time to share and discuss common issues.Methods: A mixed method research design is used with quantitative and qualitative methods. Sixteen participants completed BF-M and 16 controls on waitlist responded to questionnaires before and after the intervention.Results: After the program, the BF-M group had a significant reduction in BF and anxiety compared to the controls. The analysis of 13 interviews with BF-M participants suggested that: (1) BF-M became a space for the participants to exchange and share experiences associated with BF; (2) the participants felt more understood and less alone; and (3) they learned how to better understand and live with brain fatigue.Conclusions: This study showed that BF-M may reduce brain fatigue and help participants to better manage their difficulties. Based on this pilot study, we suggest that BF-M may be considered as a rehabilitation option for brain fatigue. However, more confirmatory research with larger and different patient groups is needed.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2025.2502039Fatigueneurorehabilitationacquired brain injurymultiple sclerosismindfulness |
| spellingShingle | Gustaf Glavå Lars Rönnbäck Birgitta Johansson A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Fatigue neurorehabilitation acquired brain injury multiple sclerosis mindfulness |
| title | A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis |
| title_full | A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis |
| title_short | A new mindfulness and psycho-educative program for treatment of brain fatigue, evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis |
| title_sort | new mindfulness and psycho educative program for treatment of brain fatigue evaluated after an acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis |
| topic | Fatigue neurorehabilitation acquired brain injury multiple sclerosis mindfulness |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2025.2502039 |
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