Author: Schellekens MP1, van den Hurk DG2, Prins JB3, Donders AR4, Molema J2, Dekhuijzen R2, van der Drift MA2, Speckens AE1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Psychiatry, Radboud university medical centre, Nijmegen, HB, The Netherlands.
<sup>2</sup>Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud university medical centre, Nijmegen, HB, The Netherlands.
<sup>3</sup>Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud university medical centre, Nijmegen, HB, The Netherlands.
<sup>4</sup>Department of Health Evidence, Radboud university medical centre, Nijmegen, HB, The Netherlands.
Conference/Journal: Psychooncology.
Date published: 2017 Mar 23
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/pon.4430. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 274
BACKGROUND: Lung cancer patients report among the highest distress rates of all cancer patients. Partners report similar distress rates. The present study examined the effectiveness of additional Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (CAU + MBSR) versus solely care as usual (CAU) to reduce psychological distress in lung cancer patients and/or their partners.
METHODS: We performed a multicentre, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. MBSR is an 8-week group-based intervention, including mindfulness practice and teachings on stress. CAU included anti-cancer treatment, medical consultations and supportive care. The primary outcome was psychological distress. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, caregiver burden, relationship satisfaction, mindfulness skills, self-compassion, rumination and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Linear mixed modeling was conducted on an intention-to-treat sample. Moderation (gender, disease stage, baseline distress, participation with/without partner) and mediation analyses were performed.
RESULTS: 31 patients and 21 partners were randomized to CAU + MBSR and 32 patients and 23 partners to CAU. After CAU + MBSR patients reported significantly less psychological distress (p = .008, d = .69) than after CAU. Baseline distress moderated outcome: those with more distress benefitted most from MBSR. Additionally, after CAU + MBSR patients showed more improvements in quality of life, mindfulness skills, self-compassion and rumination than after CAU. In partners, no differences were found between groups.
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that psychological distress in lung cancer patients can be effectively treated with MBSR. No effect was found in partners, possibly because they were more focused on patients' wellbeing rather than their own.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; caregivers; lung cancer; oncology; partners; psychological distress; psychosocial intervention; quality of life; randomized controlled trial
PMID: 28337821 DOI: 10.1002/pon.4430