Mindfulness-based stress reduction for sexual psychological recovery after radical cervical cancer surgery: A retrospective study.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy significantly improves anxiety, depression, sexual function, and relationship satisfaction in patients who have undergone radical cervical cancer surgery. In a study of 280 patients, those receiving MBSR showed greater reductions in anxiety and depression scores than those receiving routine care alone. The proportion of patients with clinically significant anxiety dropped from 69.3% to 21.4% in the MBSR group, compared to a smaller decline in the control group. Sexual dysfunction incidence was lower (42.9% vs 67.9%), and both patients and their partners reported higher sexual relationship satisfaction. MBSR was most effective in younger patients (≤55 years) and, along with partner support, was an independent positive predictor of improved psychosexual adaptation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Patients who undergo radical cervical cancer surgery often experience sexual dysfunction and psychological distress, which seriously affects their quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy for psychosexual adaptation in patients after radical cervical cancer surgery. To systematically evaluate the clinical effectiveness of MBSR therapy on psychosexual adaptation in patients following radical cervical cancer surgery. A multicenter retrospective study design was used to analyze the clinical data of 280 patients who underwent radical cervical cancer surgery between January 2021 and August 2024 at Lishui Central Hospital, The Fifth Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University and Wenzhou Central Hospital. Patients were divided into an intervention group (n = 140; receiving standard MBSR intervention) and a control group (n = 140; receiving only routine care and sexual health guidance). Among these, 140 cases were collected from Lishui Central Hospital, The Fifth Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University (70 in the intervention group and 70 in the control group) and Wenzhou Central Hospital (70 in the intervention group and 70 in the control group). After intervention, patients in the MBSR intervention group showed significant improvement in anxiety and depression levels (anxiety: 5.8 ± 1.2 vs 8.3 ± 1.7, P < 0.001; depression: 6.2 ± 1.4 vs 9.1 ± 1.8, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with clinically significant anxiety decreased from 69.3% to 21.4% (control group: 67.9%-52.9%, P < 0.001). The intervention group showed significantly better Female Sexual Function Index total scores (23.5 ± 3.6 vs 17.8 ± 3.2, P < 0.001) and scores in all dimensions than the control group, with a significantly lower incidence of sexual dysfunction (42.9% vs 67.9%, P < 0.001). Regarding sexual relationship satisfaction, both patients in the intervention group (78.3 ± 6.5 vs 65.2 ± 7.8, P < 0.001) and their partners (76.9 ± 7.1 vs 63.6 ± 8.3, P < 0.001) showed significantly improved scores. Age-stratified analysis showed that MBSR was most effective in younger patients (≤ 45 years, 46-55 years; P < 0.001), with relatively less benefit in older patients (> 55 years; P = 0.032). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that MBSR intervention [odds ratios (OR) = 2.86, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.75-4.68, P < 0.001] and partner support (OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.28-2.87, P = 0.002) were independent positive predictive factors for improving patients' psychosexual adaptation. MBSR therapy can effectively improve anxiety and depression in patients after radical cervical cancer surgery and significantly enhance sexual function and sexual relationship satisfaction, with the effects being more pronounced in younger patients. This study demonstrated that MBSR, as an integrative intervention approach, has independent positive effects on psychosexual adaptation in post-operative cervical cancer patients and is worthy of promotion in clinical practice.