Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety and functional recovery in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: A prospective study
Psycho-Oncologie September 29, 2025 Boxiang Zhang, Boyang Li, Zhiyuan Liang et al.
An 8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) reduced anxiety and improved functional recovery in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. In a prospective controlled study, 100 patients were assigned to MBI or standard care. The MBI group showed significantly greater reductions in anxiety and improvements in functional outcomes at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Adherence was high (84% completed ≥6 sessions), satisfaction averaged 8.9/10, and no adverse events occurred. A moderate negative correlation between anxiety and function at follow-up (r = –0.52) suggests a dual benefit. The authors argue that structured psychosocial interventions are feasible and clinically beneficial in this population.