Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in MS

This study focuses on stress, cognition, mood and fatigue and its effect on medication compliance. Medication compliance is measured by the weight of discarded needles. The investigators will be administering neuropsychological testing at baseline and the final visit. The subjects will complete self-report assessments during their 8 weeks in the study.

Group A will have additional weekly phone support for meditation, while Group B will have meditation training only.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with either definite MS according to the revised McDonald criteria (Polman 2005) or patients with CIS (defined as an initial MS relapse with objective documentation and 2 or more lesions within the CNS of which at least one must involve the brain)
• Patients on GA therapy for at least 6 months
• Age 18 - 70

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwilling to comply with study procedures
• Use of other DMT in conjunction with GA
• Unable to provide informed consent.
• Current (past 30 days) substance abuse
• Newly initiated (past 30 days) psychiatry treatment
• Enrolled in another program of meditation in the past six months.