A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy

Abstract

Purpose To testthe relative effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) compared with a nutrition education intervention (NEP) and usual care (UC) in women with newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer (BrCA) undergoing radiotherapy. Methods Datawere available from a randomized controlled trialof 172 women, 20 to 65 years old, with stage I or II BrCA. Data from women completing the 8-week MBSR program plus 3 additional sessions focuses on special needs associated with BrCA were compared to women receiving attention control NEP and UC. Follow-up was performed at 3 post-intervention points: 4 months, and 1 and 2 years. Standardized, validated self-administered questionnaires were used to assess psychosocial variables. Descriptive analyses compared women by randomization assignment. Regression analyses, incorporating both intention-to-treat and post hoc multivariable approaches, were used to control for potential confounding variables. Results A subset of 120 women underwent radiotherapy; 77 completed treatment prior to the study, and 40 had radiotherapy during the MBSR intervention. Women who actively received radiotherapy (art) while participating in the MBSR intervention (MBSR-art) experienced a significant (P < .05) improvement in 16 psychosocial variables compared with the NEP-art, UC-art, or both at 4 months. These included health-related, BrCA-specific quality of life and psychosocial coping, which were the primary outcomes, and secondary measures, including meaningfulness, helplessness, cognitive avoidance, depression, paranoid ideation, hostility, anxiety, global severity, anxious preoccupation, and emotional control. Conclusions MBSR appears to facilitate psychosocial adjustment in BrCA patients receiving radiotherapy, suggesting applicability for MBSR as adjunctive therapy in oncological practice.

Randomized controlled pilot trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast and colorectal cancer survivors: effects on cancer-related cognitive impairment

“…Although MBSR has long been shown to improve well-being [19] and symptoms, such as fatigue [19–21, 26], depression, and anxiety [19–22, 46], few studies have examined its role with CRCI. This study provides initial evidence regarding MBSR’s acceptability and preliminary efficacy in addressing CRCI for cancer survivors.…”

Mindfulness-based Cancer Stress Management: impact of a mindfulness-based programme on psychological distress and quality of life

“…Lengacher et al (2009) also failed to observe a significant difference in emotional well-being between treatment groups at post-intervention, but noted significantly greater improvements in physical functioning, physical role limitations, and energy scores in comparison to usual care. MBSR has also been found to increase spiritual well-being in comparison to usual care and a nutritional education programme (Henderson et al 2012(Henderson et al , 2013. MBSR has also been found to increase spiritual well-being in comparison to usual care and a nutritional education programme (Henderson et al 2012(Henderson et al , 2013.…”

Yoga into Cancer Care

“…After examination of the titles and the abstracts, 138 studies met the inclusion criteria - 28 single armed trials [Table 1][32333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859] and 110 randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials: 18 from 1996 to 2008 [Table 2],[606162636465666768697071727374757677] 34 from 2009 to 2012 [Table 3],[78798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111] and 58 from 2013 to 2016 [Table 4]. [112113114115116117118119…”

“…[81104116170171172] Family members of cancer patients, the parents of children with cancer in particular, and the spouses of cancer survivors experience increased anxiety, depression, and feeling of helplessness. [173174175176] Furthermore, pharmacological interventions used to alleviate the adverse symptoms are also associated with side effects, toxicity, and addictions, posing a great challenge for the cancer care providers.…”