"Optimizing Wellness and Neurorehabilitation with Mindfulness (OWNMindfulness)": feasibility of a novel mindfulness-based rehabilitation intervention for Persisting Symptoms after Concussion.
Brenda C Lovette, Kathleen Doyle Lyons, Jonathan Greenberg and 1 others
PMID 39530473WHAT IT FOUND
A mindfulness program for persistent concussion symptoms was feasible and well-liked.
Participants reported feeling validated and less symptomatic. However, most were receiving other rehab at the same time, so this study cannot prove the mindfulness itself caused the improvement.
Key findings
01The intervention met all feasibility benchmarks, including high retention, adherence, and satisfaction, with no adverse events reported.
02Participants reported significant improvements in trait mindfulness and concussion symptoms, but not in quality of life.
03Qualitative interviews revealed that feeling validated by peers and developing self-efficacy were central to participants' perceived recovery.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This was a small, single-arm pilot study with no control group, so it cannot determine if the intervention caused the improvements. Most participants were receiving other rehabilitation treatments concurrently, making it impossible to separate the effects of mindfulness from other care. The sample was not diverse, being predominantly white, female, and highly educated, which limits generalizability. The study was not blinded, and the primary investigator delivered the intervention and conducted the interviews, introducing potential bias.
Declared interests
The authors report no competing interests. The study was part of the primary author's doctoral dissertation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant improvements in symptoms and mindfulness as proof that the OWNMindfulness program works. The study had no control group, and most participants were receiving other rehabilitation therapies at the same time, so the observed changes could be due to those other treatments or natural recovery.