Examination of Broad Symptom Improvement Resulting From Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Author: Lengacher CA1, Reich RR2, Paterson CL2, Ramesar S2, Park JY2, Alinat C2, Johnson-Mallard V2, Moscoso M2, Budhrani-Shani P2, Miladinovic B2, Jacobsen PB2, Cox CE2, Goodman M2, Kip KE2
Affiliation:
1Cecile A. Lengacher, Sophia Ramesar, Carissa Alinat, Manolete Moscoso, and Kevin E. Kip, University of South Florida College of Nursing; Jong Y. Park and Paul B. Jacobsen, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute; Branko Miladinovic and Charles E. Cox, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa; Richard R. Reich, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, Manatee; Versie Johnson-Mallard, University of Florida, College of Nursing, Gainesville, FL; Carly L. Paterson, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD; Pinky Budhrani-Shani, Texas Woman's University, Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Houston, TX; and Matthew Goodman, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. clengach@health.usf.edu.
2Cecile A. Lengacher, Sophia Ramesar, Carissa Alinat, Manolete Moscoso, and Kevin E. Kip, University of South Florida College of Nursing; Jong Y. Park and Paul B. Jacobsen, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute; Branko Miladinovic and Charles E. Cox, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa; Richard R. Reich, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, Manatee; Versie Johnson-Mallard, University of Florida, College of Nursing, Gainesville, FL; Carly L. Paterson, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD; Pinky Budhrani-Shani, Texas Woman's University, Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Houston, TX; and Matthew Goodman, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
Conference/Journal: J Clin Oncol.
Date published: 2016 May 31
Other: Pages: JCO657874 , Word Count: 257


PURPOSE: The purpose of this randomized trial was to evaluate the efficacy of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer (MBSR[BC]) program in improving psychological and physical symptoms and quality of life among breast cancer survivors (BCSs) who completed treatment. Outcomes were assessed immediately after 6 weeks of MBSR(BC) training and 6 weeks later to test efficacy over an extended timeframe.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 322 BCSs were randomly assigned to either a 6-week MBSR(BC) program (n = 155) or a usual care group (n = 167). Psychological (depression, anxiety, stress, and fear of recurrence) and physical symptoms (fatigue and pain) and quality of life (as related to health) were assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks. Linear mixed models were used to assess MBSR(BC) effects over time, and participant characteristics at baseline were also tested as moderators of MBSR(BC) effects.

RESULTS: Results demonstrated extended improvement for the MBSR(BC) group compared with usual care in both psychological symptoms of anxiety, fear of recurrence overall, and fear of recurrence problems and physical symptoms of fatigue severity and fatigue interference (P < .01). Overall effect sizes were largest for fear of recurrence problems (d = 0.35) and fatigue severity (d = 0.27). Moderation effects showed BCSs with the highest levels of stress at baseline experienced the greatest benefit from MBSR(BC).

CONCLUSION: The MBSR(BC) program significantly improved a broad range of symptoms among BCSs up to 6 weeks after MBSR(BC) training, with generally small to moderate overall effect sizes.

© 2016 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

PMID: 27247219 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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