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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 2025 DOI: 10.5093/pi2025a1 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
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 Depression
Keywords Depressive symptoms Dyadic depression program Mindfulness awareness Self-compassion
Citations 4
Key findings 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.

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