Immediate Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Women with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis

Abstract Background Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may have positive physiological and psychological benefits for patients with breast cancer, in addition to enhancing their quality of life. However, few studies have involved synthesis of the relevant literature to confirm these effects. This meta-analysis examined the associations between MBCT and various symptoms after Western medicine–based drug treatment.

Methods: This study considered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as well as non-RCTs comparing MBCT interventions and control protocols for the alleviation of symptoms among women with breast cancer. We calculated pooled mean differences (MDs), standardized mean differences (SMDs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using random effects models to estimate summary effect sizes.

Results: Thirteen RCTs and non-RCTs with 20–245 participants were considered in our systematic review; for our meta-analysis, 11 of these studies were eligible for assessment. The pooled meta-analysis results revealed that at the end of the MBCT intervention, participants’ anxiety (SMD, − 0.70; 95% CI, − 1.26 to − 0.13; I2 = 69%), pain (SMD, − 0.64; 95% CI, − 0.92 to − 0.37; I2 = 0%), and depression (SMD, − 0.65; 95% CI, − 1.14 to − 0.17; I2 = 75%) levels had significantly decreased, and their mindfulness (MD, 8.83; 95% CI, 3.88 to 13.78; I2 = 68%) levels significantly increased.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that MBCT is highly beneficial and cost-effective as an intervention for patients who have received treatment for breast cancer.