Effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Caregivers of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Scoping Review

Authors : Lutfiye İpek, Gokce Yagmur Gunes Gencer, Pınar Kısacık, Sibel Bozgeyik

Pages : 89-102

Doi:10.17049/jnursology.1416063

View : 83 | Download : 143

Publication Date : 2025-03-07

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and summarize the literature on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for informal caregivers of the patients with ALS. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using electronic databases such as EBSCO, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science. Total of 475 studies were identified by searching through databases and other sources. After screening the titles and abstracts, 19 studies remained for full text review. Questions such as ‘What is the effect of awareness based interventions on caregiver burden for caregivers of ALS patients?’ were sought to be answered. The PRISMA flowchart was adhered to throughout the process. Results: 6 studies were included in this scoping review; one RCT, two pre-post design studies, one qualitative study and two cohort study. The fact that studies on Mindfulness-Based Interventions for caregivers of patients with ALS have only been available since 2016, and the number of them is small, and demonstrates the lack and novelty of trials on this topic. The findings of this scoping review suggest that mindfulness-based interventions can significantly alleviate caregiver burden, enhance quality of life, and improve psychological well-being, including reductions in anxiety and depression, among caregivers of patients with ALS. Conclusion: Despite the limited number of studies, the evidence supports the potential effectiveness of mindfulness-based approaches as a valuable support strategy for this population. It is believed that further research is required on this topic.
Keywords : Amyotrofik lateral skleroz, motor nöron hastalığı, bakıcı yükü, farkındalık