Train 4 Good - an eight-month mindfulness program live on Internet for long-term mental fatigue and emotional distress after an acquired brain injury

Abstract

Long-term psychosocial and emotional difficulties and mental fatigue after stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and there is a need for rehabilitation and support. Mindfulness can contribute to well-being and can be delivered in groups and also on Internet. The aim of this feasibility study was to evaluate whether an eight-month mindfulness program, Train 4 Good, could be successfully delivered live on Internet (10 participants) for participants suffering from long-term mental fatigue after a TBI or stroke. A face-to face group was used for comparison (10 participants). The program Train 4 Good, includes cultivation of the four mental states of the Brahma Viharas; metta/loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity. The Train 4 Good program was designed to enable people suffering from long-term mental fatigue and emotional distress after an acquired brain injury to further explore meditation, enhance well-being and to deepen their meditative practice after having completed a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. Significant improvement in self-compassion (Self Compassion Scale short form) was achieved after the Train 4 Good program. In conclusion, we suggest that it is possible to deliver the Train 4 Good program live on Internet for people suffering from mental fatigue and emotional distress after an acquired brain injury with a similar alleviation of self-compassion as for a face-to-face group. Mindfulness programs can be a valuable option for rehabilitation after an acquired brain injury when the fatigue and emotional burden can become long-lasting or lifelong. Development of longer mindfulness programs is warranted, since mental health problems only improve slowly and long-term support is requested.