The Mindful Compassion Program Integrated with Body-Mind-Spirit Empowerment for Reducing Depression in Lung Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads.
Fei-Hsiu Hsiao, Chao-Chi Ho, Chong-Jen Yu, Jin-Yuan Shih, Zhong-Zhe Lin, Feng-Ying Huang, Yu-Ting Chen, Chia-Chen Hsieh
Psychosocial Intervention January 1, 2025 DOI: 10.5093/pi2025a1 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA mindful compassion program delivered to lung cancer patients together with their caregivers reduced depressive symptoms more than a patient-only version, especially for younger patients and those with higher baseline quality-of-life symptom distress. Improvements in patients' mindfulness and self-compassion lowered depression by enhancing general health and reducing anxiety. Caregivers' self-compassion also helped reduce patients' depression by improving patients' quality-of-life functioning and decreasing anxiety. The findings suggest that such interventions can be tailored to individual patient needs, whether delivered dyadically or to patients alone.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 56 |
| Population | Lung cancer patients and their caregivers |
| Intervention | Mindful compassion program |
| Duration | 14-month follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Depressive symptoms Dyadic depression program Mindfulness awareness Self-compassion |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | The dyadic mindful compassion program led to a significant reduction in depressive symptoms in lung cancer patients, with greater benefits for younger patients and those with higher baseline quality-of-life symptom distress, and improvements in mindfulness and self-compassion contributed to reduced depression. |
Abstract
Objective: This study compared the long-term effects of a mindful compassion program on improving depression in lung cancer patients, both in patient-caregiver dyads and in patient-only groups, and examined the moderating roles of anxiety and quality of life (QOL). Method: Participants consisted of 56 dyads, who were randomly assigned to either the dyadic or patient-only groups. Data collection included various assessments at different time points: baseline (T0), end of intervention (T1), and follow-up at the 5th month (T2), 8th month (T3), and 14th month (T4). Results: Patients in the dyadic group experienced a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. The dyadic intervention was particularly beneficial for younger patients and those with higher baseline QOL symptom distress. Improvements in patients' mindfulness and self-compassion contributed to reduced depression by enhancing general health and lowering anxiety. Additionally, caregivers' self-compassion played a role in reducing patients' depression by improving patients' QOL functioning and decreasing anxiety. Conclusions: Mindfulness and compassion interventions, whether provided dyadically or individually, can be tailored to each patient's specific condition.