The acceptability and potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in improving psychological well-being for adults with advanced cancer: A systematic review.
Fernanda F Zimmermann, Beverley Burrell, Jennifer Jordan
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice February 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.12.014 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults with advanced cancer (stage III and IV), across all cancer types |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Advanced cancer Cancer stage iii Cancer stage iv Oncology Psychological well-being |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that mindfulness-based interventions show evidence of acceptability and effectiveness for people with advanced cancer, with reported improvements in quality of life, mindfulness skills, acceptance of the cancer situation, and reductions in depression and anxiety. They recommend adapting MBIs to be briefer, simpler, flexible in location, and less questionnaire-heavy, with individualized, home-based delivery potentially optimal for critically ill patients. |
Abstract
In spite of supportive care for people affected by cancer being well recognized as a priority for research, there is little solid evidence of the effectiveness of psychological interventions using mindfulness for those with advanced cancer. This systematic review aims to describe, evaluate and synthesize the acceptability and potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for the psychological well-being of people with advanced cancers. Eight databases were searched and terms related to advanced stages of cancer and mindfulness were combined systematically to identify relevant published literature. Inclusion criteria were studies with adults only and all types of cancer at stages III and IV. There was considerable variety in the MBI treatment packages including in the extent and centrality of mindfulness in the interventions. Of 312 identified studies, only 8 included MBIs for people with advanced cancer rather than their families or carers. Results from these studies suggests that MBIs are acceptable and beneficial to the advanced cancer population, improving quality of life, use of mindfulness skills, acceptance of their cancer situation and reduction in depression and anxiety. Some adaptations were recommended however regarding delivery, simplified briefer MBIs, abbreviated session time, flexibility concerning locality of treatment and a minimized questionnaire burden for this group. MBI packages reviewed in this study had evidence of acceptability and of effectiveness, indicating potential benefit for this population. Individualized, including home-based interventions may be optimal to allow critically ill patients to participate in treatment. In future, MBIs adapted to the needs of various advanced cancer patients are recommended to address the gap in the field and improve health care.
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 26
- Mindfulness and foreign language learners’ self-perceived proficiency: the mediating roles of anxiety and burnout Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development January 24, 2023
- Brief Mindfulness Intervention vs. Health Enhancement Program for Patients Undergoing Dialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Healthcare June 1, 2021
- Cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions for distress in patients with advanced cancer: A meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncology 2024
- Preliminary validation of the Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised in cancer populations. Psycho-Oncology 2024
- Effects of a 4-week internet-delivered mindfulness-based cancer recovery program on anxiety, depression, and mindfulness among patients with breast cancer. Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences July 28, 2024
and 21 more in the library
Cites 20
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- 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
- A qualitative study of self‐perceived effects of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) in a psychosocial oncology setting Stress and Health November 28, 2006
- Web-based individual Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for cancer-related fatigue — A pilot study Internet Interventions April 6, 2015
and 15 more in the library