Efficacy of Mindfulness-based Interventions to Treat Depression and Distress Related to Chronic Medical Conditions Among the Elderly

Download or read book Efficacy of Mindfulness-based Interventions to Treat Depression and Distress Related to Chronic Medical Conditions Among the Elderly written by Amaris Dennison and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 37 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The global population is aging. As an individual’s age increases, so will the risk for multimorbidity. An estimated 37 million baby boomers are expected to experience multiple chronic conditions. Finding effective alternative or adjunct treatments for common conditions within the elderly population is significantly crucial. Over the last few decades, mindfulness-based interventions have been used as potential treatments for psychiatric difficulties and a broad range of medical conditions. This study aims to evaluate the evidence of the efficacy of MBSR and other mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) at reducing the severity of symptoms associated with the comorbid conditions highly prevalent among the elderly population including depression, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain. Findings suggest that implementation of MBIs appear to provide positive effects on the well-being of older adults and improves symptoms associated with these specific conditions. Research also suggests that adopting mindfulness as a way of life can be used as a preventative measure. Mindfulness can assist with the reduction of stress, which if left untreated, could develop into other clinical conditions. Providing the aging population with knowledge of mindfulness-based interventions may potentially promote a healthier lifestyle, produce longevity and improve an overall better quality of life throughout this life stage.