TY - JOUR
T1 - The effectiveness of the mitchell method relaxation technique for the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms
T2 - A three-arm randomized controlled trial
AU - Amirova, Aliya
AU - Cropley, Mark
AU - Theadom, Alice
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Psychological Association.
Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/2/1
Y1 - 2017/2/1
N2 - This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Mitchell Method Relaxation Technique (MMRT) in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia. A randomized controlled trial was used to compare the effectiveness of self-administered MMRT (n = 67) with attention control (n = 66) and usual care (n = 56) groups. Primary outcomes included self-reported fatigue, pain, and sleep. Secondary outcomes were daily functioning, quality of life, depression, coping, anxiety, and perceived stress. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention (4 weeks) and follow-up (8 weeks). A significant combined improvement on outcomes (p < .005) and specific significant effects for sleep problems (d = 0.29, p < .05), sleep inadequacy (d = 0.20, p < .05), and fatigue (d = 0.47, p < .05) were present in the MMRT group. At the follow-up, the fatigue score did not differ from the postintervention score (p = .25), indicating short-term sustainability of the effect. The effects on sleep problems and sleep inadequacy were not sustained. The pain levels decreased when the MMRT was practiced 3 times a week (p < .001). MMRT proved to be effective in reducing pain, sleep problems, and fatigue. High rates of relative risk reduction for fatigue (37%) and pain (42.8%) suggest clinical significance.
AB - This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Mitchell Method Relaxation Technique (MMRT) in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia. A randomized controlled trial was used to compare the effectiveness of self-administered MMRT (n = 67) with attention control (n = 66) and usual care (n = 56) groups. Primary outcomes included self-reported fatigue, pain, and sleep. Secondary outcomes were daily functioning, quality of life, depression, coping, anxiety, and perceived stress. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention (4 weeks) and follow-up (8 weeks). A significant combined improvement on outcomes (p < .005) and specific significant effects for sleep problems (d = 0.29, p < .05), sleep inadequacy (d = 0.20, p < .05), and fatigue (d = 0.47, p < .05) were present in the MMRT group. At the follow-up, the fatigue score did not differ from the postintervention score (p = .25), indicating short-term sustainability of the effect. The effects on sleep problems and sleep inadequacy were not sustained. The pain levels decreased when the MMRT was practiced 3 times a week (p < .001). MMRT proved to be effective in reducing pain, sleep problems, and fatigue. High rates of relative risk reduction for fatigue (37%) and pain (42.8%) suggest clinical significance.
KW - Fatigue
KW - Fibromyalgia
KW - Pain
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Sleep quality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84964478808&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/str0000017
DO - 10.1037/str0000017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84964478808
SN - 1072-5245
VL - 24
SP - 86
EP - 106
JO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STRESS MANAGEMENT
JF - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STRESS MANAGEMENT
IS - 1
ER -