This research is being done to study a mindfulness intervention among people who havesymptoms of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as Long COVID.Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to the present moment with non-judgment andacceptance. Here the investigators are studying whether a mindfulness intervention canhelp reduce stress, reduce Long COVID symptoms, and improve quality of life among peopleliving with Long COVID. The mindfulness intervention is a series of recorded mindfulnesssessions, which were created by the study team. People who decide to take part will berandomly assigned to receive the study mindfulness intervention immediately after joiningthe study or to receive the study mindfulness intervention 8 weeks after joining thestudy. All participants will continue their usual medical care. Participants willcomplete online surveys to measure symptoms over time. The study will last 6 months.
Patients with COVID-19 disease who go on to develop Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2
infection (PASC) are under significant physical and psychosocial stress. Mindfulness,
operationally defined as paying attention to the present moment with non-judgment and
acceptance, is a candidate treatment to reduce stress in patients with PASC. Reducing
stress is critical, as stress may trigger flares in PASC symptoms. Mindfulness-Based
Interventions (MBIs), including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, have been shown in
clinical trials, and confirmed in meta-analytic studies, to improve physical and
psychological indices of stress in a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical
populations. Such studies suggest an MBI might be feasible and acceptable for patients
with PASC and may improve PASC symptoms and quality of life. The investigator proposes to
test whether an MBI among patients with PASC alleviates symptoms.
The MBI is an 8-week online intervention that consists of a series of recorded
mindfulness sessions that were developed specifically for people with PASC. The goal of
the MBI is to reduce stress, reduce symptoms of PASC, and improve quality of life.
Symptoms are assessed through the completion of online surveys (four surveys over 6
months). All participation is remote (no in-person study visits).
Behavioral: Structured mindfulness intervention
The mindfulness intervention is a series of recorded mindfulness sessions, which were
created by the study team. The mindfulness recordings are between two and twenty minutes
long and are accessed online.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age > or = 18
- Willing and able to provide informed consent
- Access to the internet
- Self-reported history of SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Current symptoms attributed to PASC by participant or by participant's medical
provider; ongoing symptoms that persisted >= 12 weeks after Covid-19 illness
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participating in another clinical trial of an intervention for PASC symptoms
- Engaged in a structured MBI
Columbia University
New York 5128581, New York 5128638, United States
Investigator: Deborah Theodore, MD
Contact: 212-305-8739
dat2132@cumc.columbia.edu
Deborah Theodore, MD
2123058739
dat2132@cumc.columbia.edu
Deborah Theodore, MD, Principal Investigator
Columbia University