The use of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for breast cancer patients-meta-analysis.
Xue Dong, Yan Liu, Kui Fang, Zhihan Xue, Xixi Hao, Zezhou Wang
BMC Psychology November 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-02092-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,937 |
| Population | Breast cancer patients |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 6-week intervention, 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Breast cancer Meta-analysis Mindfulness-based stress reduction Pain Posttraumatic growth Quality of life Sleep |
| Citations | 33 |
| Key findings | Eight-week MBSR significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and fatigue, and improved quality of life and posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients, while six-week MBSR showed no significant effects. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention has been widely used to reduce the burden of symptoms in cancer patients, and its effectiveness has been proven. However, the effectiveness of MBSR on depression, anxiety, fatigue, quality of life (QOL), posttraumatic growth (PTG), fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), pain, and sleep in breast cancer patients has not yet been determined. This study aims to determine the role of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy in patients with breast cancer. The objective was to systematically review the literature to explore the effect of MBSR on anxiety, depression, QOL, PTG, fatigue, FCR, pain, stress and sleep in breast cancer patients. To explore the effect of 8-week versus 6-week MBSR on the 9 indicators. Data were extracted from the original RCT study at the end of the intervention and three months after baseline to explore whether the effects of the intervention were sustained. We conducted searches on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception to November 2023. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials of breast cancer patients who received mindfulness stress reduction intervention, reporting outcomes for anxiety, depression, fatigue, QOL, PTG, FCR, pain, stress, and sleep. Two researchers conducted separate reviews of the abstract and full text, extracted data, and independently evaluated the risk of bias using the Cochrane 'Bias Risk Assessment tool'. The meta-analysis utilized Review Manager 5.4 to conduct the study, and the effect size was determined using the standardized mean difference and its corresponding 95% confidence interval. The final analysis included 15 studies with a total of 1937 patients. At the end of the intervention, the interventions with a duration of eight weeks led to a significant reduction in anxiety [SMD=-0.60, 95% CI (-0.78, -0.43), P < 0.00001, I2 = 31%], depression [SMD=-0.39, 95% CI (-0.59, -0.19), P = 0.0001, I2 = 55%], and QOL [542 participants, SMD = 0.54, 95% CI (0.30, 0.79), P < 0.0001, I2 = 49%], whereas no statistically significant effects were found in the intervention with a duration of six weeks. Similarly, in 3 months after baseline, the interventions with a duration of eight weeks led to a significant reduction in depression and QOL, however, no statistically significant effects were found at the 6-week intervention. MBSR led to a significant improvement in PTG at end of intervention [MD = 6.25, 95% CI (4.26, 8.25), P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%] and PTG 3 months after baseline. We found that MBSR reduced the fatigue status at end of intervention, but had no significant effect on fatigue status 3 months after baseline. There was no significant difference in improving pain, stress, and FCR compared to usual care. In terms of effects on QOL, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, the 8-week MBSR intervention showed better results than the 6-week MBSR intervention. The intervention of MBSR on PTG was effective, and the effect lasted until 3 months after baseline. Future studies could further identify the most effective intervention components in MBSR. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023483980.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- MBSR effects on positive psychological traits and experiential avoidance in head and neck cancer: a randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Psychotraumatology December 1, 2025
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Improving the Mental Health of Parents of Children with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of autism and developmental disorders March 13, 2025
- The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on chemotherapy-related physical and psychological distress in colorectal cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study. Future oncology June 1, 2026
- Effects of Buddhist Interventions in Their Original Context: A Meta-analysis Mindfulness March 25, 2026
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Enhances Quality of Life and Positive Psychological Traits Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial Mindfulness 2026
and 8 more in the library
Cites 15
- Levels of immune cells in transcendental meditation practitioners International Journal of Yoga 2014
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on quality of life of breast cancer patient: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2024
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety, depression, and fatigue in people with lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies 2023
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Breast Cancer Survivors with Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Pain Research and Management July 7, 2022
- Effect of mindfulness yoga on anxiety and depression in early breast cancer patients received adjuvant chemotherapy: a randomized clinical trial Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology July 5, 2022
and 10 more in the library