A Mobile App-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Psychological Distress in Intensive Care Unit Survivors

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/a-mobile-app-based-mindfulness-intervention-for-psychological-distress-in-intensive-care-unit-survivors?nav=govd A new clinical trial tested various ways of delivering a mobile app–based mindfulness intervention for individuals who had symptoms of depression after being treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) for a critical illness. The study showed that the best version of the intervention in terms of effects on psychological distress symptoms, adherence, and feasibility was a version that was fully app based. The study, recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine, was led by scientists at Duke University, Oregon Health & Science University, and University of Colorado (Aurora) and was partially funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Past research has shown that depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are prevalent among individuals who have received ICU care for critical illnesses. But existing in-hospital and post-hospital interventions have not had much impact on relieving psychological distress symptoms among ICU survivors.