Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Facial Paralysis Patients

Mindfulness Meditation to Improve Social Functioning and Quality of Life in Patients With Facial Paralysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Currently, physicians have several options in addressing the anatomic and physiologic sequela of facial paralysis. However, strategies to address the psychologic and coping ability for patients have not been investigated. The goal is to investigate the effect of mindfulness meditation on social functioning in patients with facial paralysis. This study will also explore whether increasing social functioning in patients with facial paralysis will improve overall quality of life. These questions will be answered using a randomized controlled trial.

In this study population, facial paralysis was significantly associated with increased loneliness, decreased social function, decreased comfort with socializing, and worse quality of life scores. Furthermore, prior studies have shown that facial paralysis increases the likelihood of depression as measured on validated psychometric instruments. Currently, treating physicians have several options in addressing the anatomic and physiologic sequela of facial paralysis. However, strategies to address the psychologic and coping ability for patients have not been investigated. To better provide patient-centered care, physicians should consider the psychosocial impact of facial paralysis to identify patients who may benefit from additional support interventions to complement facial reanimation treatment plans. This is a prospective repeated measures study examining psychosocial status as measured by validated psychometric instruments. The intervention group will participate in mindfulness meditation using a phone application. Assessment of social functioning and quality of life will be conducted using survey instruments.

Mindfulness meditation intervention: patients will be asked to complete a guided mindfulness meditation phone application intervention.

Patients assigned to the non-intervention arm will not be instructed to use a mindfulness meditation phone application and instead will listen to educational materials.

Mindfulness meditation intervention: patients will be asked to complete a guided mindfulness meditation intervention using a phone application for at least 4 weeks with periodic survey assessments using validated psychometric tools.

Changes in Social Functioning as assessed by University of California, Los Angeles 3-point loneliness scale

University of California, Los Angeles 3-point loneliness scale - minimum score 0, maximum score 100 assessing how often one feels socially isolated, higher indicating greater loneliness

Facial disability index (social functioning portion) - categorical responses ranging from "never" to "all of the time" for social problems associated with facial muscle function over the past month to measure social functioning; the minimum to maximum score range for social functioning is 5 to 30 with a higher score indicating greater social functioning

Social functioning visual analog scale - single-item questionnaire ranging from 0 to 100 with greater numbers indicating more comfort in socializing with others

Quality of life will be measured using the validated quality of life visual analog scale (single-item questionnaire ranging from 0 to 100 with greater numbers indicating a higher quality of life)

Anxiety will be measured using the validated State-Trait Anxiety Inventory with 20 items measuring trait anxiety and 20 items measuring state anxiety, each with categorical responses ranging from "never" to "very much so" in response statements regarding how one feels generally (trait) and at the current moment (state)

Mindfulness will be measured using the validated Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised which is a 12-item questionnaire with categorical responses ranging "rarely/not at all" to "almost always" regarding statements about one's experience of mindfulness with minimum score of 12 points to a maximum score of 48 points where a higher score indicates greater mindful qualities

Facial disability index (physical functioning portion) - categorical responses ranging from "usually with no difficulty" to "usually did not do because of health" for physical problems associated with facial muscle function over the past month to measure physical functioning; the minimum to maximum score range for social functioning is 0 to 25 with a higher score indicating worse physical function

Inclusion Criteria: Patients older than 18 years of age Must have any-cause facial paralysis Exclusion Criteria: Patients younger than 18 years old Non-English speakers Patients without smart-phone access Patients with autism Patients with schizophrenia Patients with an affective psychiatric condition

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