Mindfulness and mindlessness and ALS

Mindfulness and mindlessness are two relevant psychological constructs for the field of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). When mindful, people are more open, flexible, and aware, and this attitude results in a higher psychological well-being. A mindful attitude is a source of psychological resilience for people with ALS and their caregivers. Conversely, a mindless view about the illness, reducing the whole person’s identify to the diagnosis, represents a threat to their quality of life. Furthermore, preliminary findings seem to suggest that mindfulness is associated with a slower course of the disease. In this chapter we discuss the impact that mindfulness can exert on both the quality and the quantity of life.