Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow and Anxiety Associated with an 8‐week Mindfulness Programme in Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

This study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) associated with the Mindfulness-based Art Therapy (MBAT) programme and correlate such changes to stress and anxiety in women with breast cancer. Eighteen breast cancer patients were randomized to the MBAT or education control group. The patients received the diagnosis of breast cancer between 6 months and 3 years prior to enrollment and were not in active treatment. The age of participants ranged from 52 to 77 years. A voxel-based analysis was performed to assess differences at rest, during meditation and during a stress task. The anxiety sub-scale of the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised was compared with changes in resting CBF before and after the programmes. Subjects in the MBAT arm demonstrated significant increases in CBF at rest and during meditation in multiple limbic regions, including the left insula, right amygdala, right hippocampus and bilateral caudate. Patients in the MBAT programme also had a significant correlation between increased CBF in the left caudate and decreased anxiety scores. In the MBAT group, responses to a stressful cue resulted in reduced activation of the posterior cingulate. The results demonstrate that the MBAT programme was associated with significant changes in CBF, which correlated with decreased anxiety over an 8-week period.

Systematic review and economic modelling of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of art therapy among people with non-psychotic mental health disorders

“…47 In the remaining 12 studies, the study population comprised individuals without a formal mental health diagnosis. [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]61,62 The populations in these studies are, therefore, mainly people with long-term medical conditions which are not reported to be accompanied by a mental health diagnosis; however, outcomes targeted in these studies were mental health symptoms.…”

“…59 The majority of studies were conducted in community/outpatient setting, although the precise setting for conducting the intervention was not reported in six studies. 50,52,[54][55][56]61 Brief descriptions of the art therapy interventions are provided in Tables 4 and 5.…”

“…55 One study did not state whether or not an art therapist was involved. 54 While there was considerable variability in the reporting of the accreditation of the therapist, most studies were conducted by a person who was considered to be qualified as an art therapist.…”

“…49,55,56,62 Age Eleven RCTs are of adults and four RCTs are of children or adolescents. 48,49,50,58 Gender Five RCTs involved only women, 47,54,55,61,62 and one RCT only men. 59 In the remaining nine RCTs the subjects were of mixed gender.…”

“…50,51,[54][55][56][57][58]61,62 The remaining six studies involved people who were depressed, 47,59 people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 48,49 or older people.…”