Mindfulness- Based Intervention for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rheumatic autoimmune disease, involving chronic pain, fatigue, movement difficulties, and is often accompanied by tremendous psychological and psychiatric difficulties. Mindfulness-based Intervention (MBI), is a mind-body intervention, which has been documented in several studies as effective among stress- related diseases, such as crohn\'s disease. Nevertheless, not much is known about the efficiency of MBI among SLE patients and about the mechanisms of change through which MBI works. In the present study, the investigators are focusing on different cognitive mechanisms and their role in MBI action. The study is a randomized-controlled trial. 26 Patients diagnosed with SLE (Mean age=41.26) were randomly assigned to either a 10-weeks MBI intervention (N=15) or a waitlist-control (WL;N=11).4 central measurements points were conducted through the study, which included physiological and psychological variables: at the beginning of the intervention (T1), in the middle of the intervention (T2) at the end of the intervention (T3) and one 6 months follow- up measurement after the termination of the intervention (T4). additionally, participant\'s blood test has been taken at the beginning and at the end of the intervention.