Combining Mindfulness and Ultraviolet Phototherapy (UVB) in the treatment of moderate Psoriasis. A Pilot Study of patients experiences of the disease and treatment.

Abstract

We did a small pilot study with mixed method. The data collection included both quantitative data as well as qualitative data from interviews. We recruited sixteen moderate psoriasis patients divided in the following two groups of interventions (n = 8) and control (n = 8). The intervention group was given a brief Mindfulness practice as a supplement for the Ultraviolet Phototherapy. The control group received only Ultraviolet Phototherapy. The aim was to develop a design for examining the effect of mindfulness during light therapy. The dependent variables were quality of life, perceived stress, severity, facets/traits of mindfulness. The results were non-significant for any differences between the intervention and control group at baseline or follow-up. A significant difference was detected for perceived stress and quality of life between baseline and follow-up for both the intervention and control group, and it was likely because of light therapy. Qualitative data provided clear indications of improved subjective well-being in those practicing mindfulness. The acknowledgement of distress impact on the disease should lead to practical use stress reduction methods such as Mindfulness to prevent further stress aggravation of the disease. Patients had a high threshold for seeking treatment, with reasoning for time consume and distance to light treatment. The instruments of measure behaved as expected in the design, in arguing for conducting a larger study.