Mindfulness-based stress reduction as perceived by individuals with pathological mental fatigue after an acquired brain injury

After acquired brain injury (ABI), some individuals suffer from long-term fatigue and emotional distress, which affects their work ability and daily life. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has shown promising results in quantitative studies as a complementary treatment for pathological mental fatigue (PMF) after ABI. This study aims to explore how people suffering from lasting PMF after ABI experience MBSR in relation to their PMF, with the intention of better meeting the rehabilitation needs of those affected. Seven individuals (mean age 42 years) who had suffered from long-lasting PMF after ABI took part in the study. None of them had resumed work due to their PMF, but all had recovered from neurological impairments. They were interviewed after completing an MBSR course. Thematic analysis of the participants' perspectives suggested that the MBSR program provided them with coping techniques for living with PMF. They gained a deeper understanding of their condition becoming more self-compassionate, and the treatment provided them with a forum for meeting and sharing experiences with others with similar problems. The qualitative results strengthen the evidence for MBSR as a feasible psychoeducative complementary treatment for PMF after ABI.