Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
J Huntingtons Dis. 2021;10(2):277-291. doi: 10.3233/JHD-210471.
Psychological difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and irritability are common in Huntington's disease, even for premanifest individuals. However, very little evidence exists of psychological approaches to manage this distress. We have conducted a feasibility study with an embedded qualitative component to investigate the possibility of using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and present here the findings from the qualitative data.
To investigate the experience of premanifest individuals learning and practising mindfulness through completing a course of MBCT.
Twelve premanifest individuals completed a course of MBCT and attended three follow up reunion meetings over the following year. Eleven participants agreed to be interviewed post-course and ten participants one year post-course about their experience of the course and any impact on their lives. Seven participants nominated a friend or relative (supporter) to be involved in the research, of whom six agreed to be interviewed post-course and two at one year about the impact of the course on the participants. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Four themes were constructed from the data: 1) A meeting of minds: the group facilitating learning and support; 2) Mindfulness is hard, but enables more effective emotional management; 3) Mindfulness can change the relationship with self and others; and 4) Benefiting from mindfulness: the importance of persistence.
The participants who completed the course found it beneficial. Some participants reported reductions in psychological distress, a greater sense of calm and better emotion regulation, with some of these positive changes also noticed by supporters. MBCT is worthy of further investigation for this population.
即使是在亨廷顿病的前体现阶段，焦虑、抑郁和易怒等心理困难也很常见。然而，几乎没有证据表明可以通过心理方法来管理这种痛苦。我们进行了一项具有嵌入式定性部分的可行性研究，以调查使用正念认知疗法（MBCT）的可能性，并在此介绍定性数据的结果。
通过完成 MBCT 课程，调查前体现个体学习和实践正念的体验。
12 名前体现个体完成了 MBCT 课程，并在接下来的一年中参加了三次后续聚会。11 名参与者同意在课程结束后接受采访，10 名参与者在课程结束一年后接受采访，内容是关于他们对课程的体验以及对生活的任何影响。7 名参与者提名了一名朋友或亲戚（支持者）参与研究，其中 6 名支持者在课程结束后接受了采访，2 名支持者在一年后接受了采访，内容是关于课程对参与者的影响。数据使用反思性主题分析进行分析。
从数据中构建了四个主题：1）思想的交汇：小组促进学习和支持；2）正念很难，但能更有效地进行情绪管理；3）正念可以改变与自我和他人的关系；4）正念的益处：坚持的重要性。
完成课程的参与者认为它是有益的。一些参与者报告说心理困扰减轻了，感到更加平静，情绪调节能力也更好了，一些支持者也注意到了这些积极的变化。MBCT 值得进一步研究这种人群。
