The Effects of a Digital Mindfulness Intervention on Mental Health and Vision-Related Quality of Life in Noninfectious Uveitis.
Jessica G Shantha, Isabel Ray, Anika Kumar et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-center, single-masked, waitlist-controlled randomized clinical trial evaluated an 8-week digital mindfulness program in 100 adults with active or inactive noninfectious uveitis and at least mild baseline anxiety or depression. Seventy participants completed the primary endpoint assessment. Compared with waitlist control, app access was associated with a lower adjusted GAD-7 anxiety score at 8 weeks (mean difference -1.7 points; 95% CI, -3.17 to -0.23, P = 0.02). Depression and perceived stress also improved more with the intervention, while vision-related quality of life did not differ significantly.
Key findings
- At 8 weeks, adjusted GAD-7 scores were lower with the app than control (mean difference -1.7 points; 95% CI, -3.17 to -0.23, P = 0.02).
- PHQ-9 scores fell more in the intervention group (-1.90 points; 95% CI, -3.04 to -0.76, P = 0.001).
- PSS-10 scores fell more with the intervention (-3.69 points; 95% CI, -6.00 to -1.37, P = 0.002).
- Between-group change in NEI VFQ-25 was not statistically significant (mean difference 1.98 points; 95% CI, -0.90 to 4.86, P = 0.18).
Why it matters
Adults with noninfectious uveitis and baseline anxiety or depression may experience improvements in several mental health measures with a digital mindfulness program. The findings highlight mental health as a relevant component of uveitis care and suggest a potential adjunctive option, although the trial did not demonstrate improved vision-related quality of life.
What to keep in mind
The trial was single-center, and only 70 of 100 randomized participants completed the primary endpoint assessment. Outcomes were assessed over 8 weeks.