Mindfulness for health in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
This project will be the first to explore the potential of mindfulness-based interventions to support mental health, pain management, and quality of life in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Building on successful use of mindfulness in other conditions, this 14-month study will recruit 20 men and young adults with DMD to take part in a structured online intervention requiring no physical movement, making it accessible regardless of physical ability. Participants will first complete an 8-week observation phase, followed by an 8-week mindfulness programme, with researchers measuring changes in anxiety, depression, pain, and quality of life at key points.
Drawing from previous work in other low-mobility populations, the intervention will be adapted specifically for the needs of people with DMD. After the programme, participants will be interviewed to gather insights on their experiences and help shape a future, larger-scale study aimed at offering accessible, non-invasive tools for improving wellbeing in this community. This Project is funded by Duchenne UK.
If you are interested in taking part in any of our research, please contact Dr Chris Morse: c.morse@mmu.ac.uk.