Mindfulness-based stress reduction training for oncology patients: patients' appraisal and changes in well-being.
Arenda Kieviet-Stijnen, Adriaan Visser, Bert Garssen, Welmet Hudig
Patient education and counseling September 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2008.05.015 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 47 |
| Population | Cancer patients |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Duration | 8-week training, follow-up at 1 year |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | After mindfulness-based stress reduction, cancer patients reported improved quality of life, more joy in life, less tension, and fewer physical symptoms, with effects stronger at one-year follow-up. Decreases in depression, anger, vigor, and total mood disturbance appeared at follow-up, but no changes in meaning in life or fatigue. |
Abstract
This study explores satisfaction and changes in well-being in cancer patients following mindfulness-based stress reduction training. Data were collected in 47 cancer patients before and after the training, and also 1 year later. Standardized questionnaires were used to measure quality of life, joy in life, mood disturbances (depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and tension), meaning in life and physical symptoms. Participants were highly satisfied and said they had reached their goals with the training. The results show that directly after the training patients reported a better quality of life, more joy in life, less tension, and fewer physical symptoms. These effects appeared even stronger at follow-up. A year after the training a decrease was also found in depression, anger, vigor and total mood disturbance. No changes could be established for meaning in life and fatigue. Effect sizes varied between 0.28 and 0.60, indicating small-to-moderate changes. Mindfulness training potentially supports cancer patients in handling the stress due to their life-threatening disease and increases their well-being. Several suggestions for further research are discussed. Mindfulness training provides cancer patients with tools to deal with their limitations and worries, both during and after their treatment.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Prospects for a clinical science of mindfulness-based intervention. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- The impact of mindfulness-based interventions on symptom burden, positive psychological outcomes, and biomarkers in cancer patients Cancer Management and Research June 1, 2015
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness- Based Cognitive Therapy on Cognitive Failure and Emotional Processing in Anxious Nurses Iran Journal of Nursing October 1, 2016
- P02-335 - A Systematic Review of Neurobiological and Clinical Features of Mindfulness Meditations European Psychiatry 2010
and 16 more in the library
Cites 14
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
and 9 more in the library