Is mindfulness associated with insomnia after menopause?

OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness has been defined as being intentionally aware of internal and external experiences that occur at the present moment, without judgment. Techniques that develop mindfulness, such as meditation, have positive effects on reducing insomnia, a sleep disorder that is common both during and after menopause. Our aim was to establish whether postmenopausal women with insomnia are less mindful than postmenopausal women without sleep disorders. METHODS: Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 years who did not use hormone therapy were recruited for the study. The sample included 14 women with insomnia and 12 women without insomnia or any other sleep disorder. The groups were comparable in age, schooling, and anxiety level. To assess mindfulness, we used the validated Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the attentiveness domain of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Expanded Form. RESULTS: Participants with insomnia were less mindful than healthy women. The level of mindfulness was able to discriminate the group with insomnia from the healthy group, with 71.4% accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women with insomnia are less mindful than women without insomnia. Mindfulness-based interventions, such as meditation, may be beneficial for postmenopausal insomnia.

Mind-body interventions for the treatment of insomnia: a review / Intervenções mente-corpo para o tratamento de insônia: uma revisão

OBJECTIVE: As insomnia is highly prevalent, and side effects of medication are well-known, mind-body interventions are increasingly being sought. The objective of this study is to present a narrative review regarding the effects of mind-body interventions for the treatment of insomnia. METHOD: A PubMed search was conducted including only randomized, controlled trials in which the main objective was to treat insomnia. DISCUSSION: Twelve studies were selected. In three of the studies, objective parameters (polysomnography) were analyzed. Mind-body interventions were able to improve sleep efficiency and total sleep time. Most can ameliorate sleep quality; some can reduce the use of hypnotic drugs in those who are dependent on these drugs. CONCLUSION: According to the studies we selected, self-reported sleep was improved by all mind-body treatments, among them yoga, relaxation, Tai Chi Chih and music. Cognitive behavioral therapy seems to be the most effective mind-body intervention. Cognitive behavioral therapy was the only intervention that showed better results than medication. However, considering that only five of the twelve studies chosen reached a score of 3 in the Jadad scale, new studies with a higher methodological quality have to be conducted especially in mind-body interventions that belong to the complementary or alternative medicine field.

OBJETIVO: Considerando-se que a insônia é altamente prevalente, e os efeitos colaterais das medicações para seu tratamento são bem conhecidos, pesquisas no campo das intervenções mente-corpo têm sido desenvolvidas. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar uma revisão narrativa sobre os efeitos das intervenções mente-corpo para o tratamento de insônia. MÉTODO: Uma busca pelo site Pubmed foi conduzida incluindo-se apenas estudos controlados e randomizados nos quais o principal objetivo era o tratamento da insônia. DISCUSSÃO: Doze estudos foram selecionados. Em três deles, parâmetros objetivos (polissonografia) foram analisados. Vários destes estudos mostraram melhora na qualidade do sono; em grupos de usuários de drogas hipnóticas ocorreu redução no uso das mesmas. CONCLUSÃO: De acordo com os estudos selecionados, todas as intervenções mente-corpo melhoraram ao menos a qualidade subjetiva do sono, dentre elas yoga, Tai Chi Chih e música. A terapia comportamental cognitiva parece ser a mais efetiva destas intervenções e foi a única que mostrou melhores resultados que a medicação. Porém, considerando que apenas cinco dos 12 estudos selecionados alcançaram o escore 3 na escala de Jadad, novos estudos com melhor qualidade metodológica precisam ser conduzidos especialmente dentre as intervenções mente-corpo que estão no campo das práticas complementares ou alternativas.

Mind-body interventions for the treatment of insomnia: a review.

OBJECTIVE: As insomnia is highly prevalent, and side effects of medication are well-known, mind-body interventions are increasingly being sought. The objective of this study is to present a narrative review regarding the effects of mind-body interventions for the treatment of insomnia. METHOD: A PubMed search was conducted including only randomized, controlled trials in which the main objective was to treat insomnia. DISCUSSION: Twelve studies were selected. In three of the studies, objective parameters (polysomnography) were analyzed. Mind-body interventions were able to improve sleep efficiency and total sleep time. Most can ameliorate sleep quality; some can reduce the use of hypnotic drugs in those who are dependent on these drugs. CONCLUSION: According to the studies we selected, self-reported sleep was improved by all mind-body treatments, among them yoga, relaxation, Tai Chi Chih and music. Cognitive behavioral therapy seems to be the most effective mind-body intervention. Cognitive behavioral therapy was the only intervention that showed better results than medication. However, considering that only five of the twelve studies chosen reached a score of 3 in the Jadad scale, new studies with a higher methodological quality have to be conducted especially in mind-body interventions that belong to the complementary or alternative medicine field.