Efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction programme in reducing perceived stress and health complaints in patients with coronary heart disease

Background: Coronary heart diseases (CHD) represent a major health burden. The number of patients with CHD is increasing and psychosocial factors are now recognised as playing a significant and independent role in the development of CHD and its complications. This indicates a need for implication of non-pharmacological intervention in the management of CHD patients, which is overlooked in Indian settings. Aims: The present study aimed at examining the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme in reducing the perceived stress and health complaints (somatic complaints and cognitive complaints) in CHD patients. Methodology: The sample consisted of 50 participants with the diagnosis of CHD; age ranged from 25 to 55 years. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups ? treatment-as-usual (TAU) group (N=25) and MBSR group (N=25) ? after completing the measures. The tools used, before and after intervention, included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Health Complaints Scale (HCS). Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 16.0 (SPSS-16.0). Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in perceived stress and health complaints scores in the MBSR group at post intervention level. Conclusion: MBSR is highly effective for reducing perceived stress and health complaints in CHD patients. These findings should be considered as a breakthrough and can be taken seriously that MBSR is a credible and potentially effective way of helping people cope with perceived stress and health complaints.