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Current guidelines for the treatment of type 2 diabetes focus on pharmacological treatment of glucose and cardio-vascular risk factors. The aim of this prospective randomized controlled intervention study was to examine the effects of a psychosocial intervention on clinical endpoints and risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes and early diabetic kidney disease.110 patients were randomized to receive an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training (n = 53) compared to standard care (n = 57). The study was carried out open-labelled and randomization was performed computer-generated in a 1:1 ratio. Primary outcome of the study was the change in urinary albumin excretion (albumin-creatinine-ratio, ACR); secondary outcomes were metabolic parameters, intima media thickness (IMT), psychosocial parameters and cardiovascular events.89 patients (42 in control group and 47 in intervention group) were analysed after 3 years of follow-up. After 1 year, the intervention group showed a reduction of ACR from 44 [16/80] to 39 [20/71] mg/g, while controls increased from 47 [16/120] to 59 [19/128] mg/g (p = 0.05). Parallel to the reduction of stress levels after 1 year, the intervention-group additionally showed reduced catecholamine levels (p < 0.05), improved 24 h-mean arterial (p < 0.05) and maximum systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), as well as a reduction in IMT (p < 0.01). However, these effects were lost after 2 and 3 years of follow-up.This is the first study to show that a psychosocial intervention improves cardiovascular risk factors in high risk type 2 diabetes patients.

Objectives To explore the impact of depression on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) impairment in depressed and non-depressed patients with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore possible effects of an acceptance- and mindfulness-based group intervention (MBSR) on HR and HRV.Methods Alongside a prospective clinical trial, we collected demographic, psychosocial and clinical data from 113 chronic T2DM patients in a standardized setting. At baseline and after one year, depressive mood was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and autonomic function was determined by measuring HR and HRV markers. A subsample was randomly assigned to take part in eight MBSR sessions. Results Of the 113 T2DM patients (77.9% men; mean age=58.8±7.0 years; diabetes duration 11.5±7.0 years), 33 showed clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, we found no association between depression and HR/HRV (all comparisons p>0.05). In prospective regression analysis depression did not predict follow-up scores of HRV. The patients who participated in the MBSR intervention showed a tendency toward improved parasympathetic control (RMSSD, CV, E-I-Ratio) with small-to-moderate effect sizes (d≤0.38). Conclusions Depression was not directly associated with cardiac autonomic control in this sample, but MBSR training may have positively influenced HR and HRV. In advanced diabetes, somatic and behavioral parameters seem to be more predictive than depression for the course of autonomic functioning, but the pathways remain unclear.

Objectives To explore the impact of depression on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) impairment in depressed and non-depressed patients with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore possible effects of an acceptance- and mindfulness-based group intervention (MBSR) on HR and HRV.Methods Alongside a prospective clinical trial, we collected demographic, psychosocial and clinical data from 113 chronic T2DM patients in a standardized setting. At baseline and after one year, depressive mood was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and autonomic function was determined by measuring HR and HRV markers. A subsample was randomly assigned to take part in eight MBSR sessions. Results Of the 113 T2DM patients (77.9% men; mean age=58.8±7.0 years; diabetes duration 11.5±7.0 years), 33 showed clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, we found no association between depression and HR/HRV (all comparisons p>0.05). In prospective regression analysis depression did not predict follow-up scores of HRV. The patients who participated in the MBSR intervention showed a tendency toward improved parasympathetic control (RMSSD, CV, E-I-Ratio) with small-to-moderate effect sizes (d≤0.38). Conclusions Depression was not directly associated with cardiac autonomic control in this sample, but MBSR training may have positively influenced HR and HRV. In advanced diabetes, somatic and behavioral parameters seem to be more predictive than depression for the course of autonomic functioning, but the pathways remain unclear.

Objectives To explore the impact of depression on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) impairment in depressed and non-depressed patients with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore possible effects of an acceptance- and mindfulness-based group intervention (MBSR) on HR and HRV.Methods Alongside a prospective clinical trial, we collected demographic, psychosocial and clinical data from 113 chronic T2DM patients in a standardized setting. At baseline and after one year, depressive mood was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and autonomic function was determined by measuring HR and HRV markers. A subsample was randomly assigned to take part in eight MBSR sessions. Results Of the 113 T2DM patients (77.9% men; mean age=58.8±7.0 years; diabetes duration 11.5±7.0 years), 33 showed clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, we found no association between depression and HR/HRV (all comparisons p>0.05). In prospective regression analysis depression did not predict follow-up scores of HRV. The patients who participated in the MBSR intervention showed a tendency toward improved parasympathetic control (RMSSD, CV, E-I-Ratio) with small-to-moderate effect sizes (d≤0.38). Conclusions Depression was not directly associated with cardiac autonomic control in this sample, but MBSR training may have positively influenced HR and HRV. In advanced diabetes, somatic and behavioral parameters seem to be more predictive than depression for the course of autonomic functioning, but the pathways remain unclear.

<p>This article looks at the importance of <em>Triratnastotra</em>,a poem of only four verses by Mātṛveṭa. Mātṛveṭa was one of the most famous Buddhis poets of India. (Mark Premo-Hopkins 2004-04-29)</p>

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention is effective for reducing psychosocial distress (i.e., depression, psychosocial stress) and the progression of nephropathy (i.e., albuminuria) and for improving the subjective health status of patients with type 2 diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria were randomized to a mindfulness-based intervention (n = 53) or a treatment-as-usual control (n = 57) group. The study is designed to investigate long-term outcomes over a period of 5 years. We present data up to the first year of follow-up (FU). RESULTS At FU, the MBSR group showed lower levels of depression (d = 0.71) and improved health status (d = 0.54) compared with the control group. No significant differences in albuminuria were found. Per-protocol analysis also showed higher stress reduction in the intervention group (d = 0.64). CONCLUSIONS MBSR intervention achieved a prolonged reduction in psychosocial distress. The effects on albuminuria will be followed up further. Several studies reported not only an increased incidence of depression among patients with type 2 diabetes (1), but also a putative causal role of psychological distress in the pathogenesis of diabetes (2) and its complications (3,4). As shown by our research group, psychological stress is linked to the activation of proinflammatory transcription factors known to be involved in late diabetes complications (5,6). Because previous studies in diabetes and other medical diseases indicate that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or an MBSR component may be effective in reducing or preventing depression and stress as well as increasing health status (7–10), we initiated a 5-year trial with albuminuria progression as the primary end point and psychological distress, health status, mortality, cardiovascular events, and the activation of proinflammatory transcription factors as secondary end points.