Theoretical Rationale and Case Illustration of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Fear of Cancer Recurrence.
Christina M. Luberto, Daniel L. Hall, Emma Chad-Friedman, Elyse R Park
Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings December 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-019-09610-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Young adult breast cancer survivor |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Breast neoplasms Neoplasm recurrence, local Adult Female Cancer survivors Cognitive behavioral therapy Health anxiety Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Fear of recurrence |
| Key findings | Argues that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy can be adapted to treat fear of cancer recurrence based on a health anxiety model, and presents a case study illustrating the adapted protocol's delivery, feasibility, acceptability, and associated changes in outcomes in a young adult breast cancer survivor. |
Abstract
Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common problem among cancer survivors and evidence-based interventions grounded in theoretical models are needed. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based intervention for reducing health anxiety that could be useful to apply to FCR. However, there has only been one study of MBCT for FCR to date, and the theoretical rationale and practical application of MBCT for FCR has not been described. The purpose of this paper is to offer an evidence-based rationale for MBCT to treat FCR based on a health anxiety model; describe the process of adapting MBCT to target FCR; and present a case study of the adapted protocol for treating FCR in a young adult breast cancer survivor to illustrate its delivery, feasibility, acceptability, and associated changes in outcomes. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Advanced meditator | 2001 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Relapse Prevention: A Feasibility Pilot Study Adult alcohol-dependent graduates of an intensive outpatient program | 2008 | Prospective case series | n = 19 |
| How does it feel to lack a sense of boundaries? A case study of a long-term mindfulness meditator. A single long-term mindfulness practitioner (S) with 40 years of practice in... | 2015 | Qualitative case study | n = 1 |
| Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative... | 2009 | Case study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling A female problem gambler | 2011 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Adapting Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for Individual Cancer Care: Clinical Guidelines and Illustrative Case Study Mindfulness July 29, 2026
- Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Quality of Life and Mental Health Among Women With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. SAGE Open Nursing 2026
- Evidence of psychological and biological effects of structured Mindfulness-Based Interventions for cancer patients and survivors: A meta-review. Psycho-Oncology November 2021
Cites 17
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
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- Treatment-specific changes in decentering following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus antidepressant medication or placebo for prevention of depressive relapse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology March 12, 2012
- Training Teachers to Deliver Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Learning from the UK Experience Mindfulness April 26, 2010
- A randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus unrestricted services for health anxiety (hypochondriasis). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 18, 2012
and 12 more in the library