Randomized controlled pilot trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction compared to psychoeducational support for persistently fatigued breast and colorectal cancer survivors.
Shelley A Johns, Linda F. Brown, Kathleen A Beck-Coon, Tasneem L Talib, Patrick O Monahan, R Brian Giesler, Yan Tong, Laura Wilhelm, Janet S Carpenter, Diane Von Ah, Christina D Wagner, Mary De Groot, Karen Schmidt, Diane Monceski, Marie Danh, Jennifer M Alyea, Kathy D Miller, Kurt Kroenke
Supportive Care in Cancer October 2016 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-016-3220-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 71 |
| Population | Breast (n = 60) and colorectal (n = 11) cancer survivors (stage 0-III) with clinically significant cancer-related fatigue after completing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy an average of 28 months before enrollment |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention with assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cancer Fatigue Psychoeducation |
| Registration | NCT01724333 |
| Key findings | MBSR and psychoeducation/support groups did not differ significantly in cancer-related fatigue interference at any time point, though a trend favored MBSR post-intervention (d = -0.46). MBSR participants reported greater improvement in vitality (d = 0.53) and pain (d = 0.53) and more often rated fatigue as moderately to completely improved. Both groups showed moderate-to-large within-group improvements in fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep at post-intervention and six-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a disruptive symptom for many survivors. Despite promising evidence for efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in reducing CRF, no trials comparing it to an active comparator for fatigued survivors have been published. The purpose of this trial was to compare MBSR to psychoeducation for CRF and associated symptoms. Breast (n = 60) and colorectal (n = 11) cancer survivors (stage 0-III) with clinically significant CRF after completing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy an average of 28 months prior to enrollment were randomized to MBSR or psychoeducation/support groups (PES). MBSR focused on mindfulness training; PES focused on CRF self-management. Outcomes included CRF interference (primary), CRF severity and global improvement, vitality, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and pain. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 6-month follow-up (T3) using intent-to-treat analysis. Between-group differences in CRF interference were not significant at any time point; however, there was a trend favoring MBSR (d = -0.46, p = 0.073) at T2. MBSR participants reported significantly greater improvement in vitality (d = 0.53, p = 0.003) and were more likely to report CRF as moderately to completely improved compared to the PES group (χ2 (1) = 4.1765, p = 0.041) at T2. MBSR participants also reported significantly greater reductions in pain at T2 (d = 0.53, p = 0.014). In addition, both MBSR and PES produced moderate-to-large and significant within-group improvements in all fatigue outcomes, depression, anxiety, and sleep at T2 and T3 compared to T1. MBSR and PES appear efficacious for CRF and related symptoms. Larger trials including a usual care arm are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01724333.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 26
- The effect of mindfulness meditation on sleep quality: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences December 21, 2018
- Mindfulness‐based interventions for psychological and physical health outcomes in cancer patients and survivors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Psycho-Oncology September 11, 2019
- Using mindfulness-based stress reduction to relieve loneliness, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine September 15, 2023
- The Effect of Meditation-Based Interventions on Patients with Fatigue Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Psychologica Belgica 2023
- Effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on quality of sleep among patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Psychosomatic Research May 1, 2025
and 21 more in the library
Cites 9
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Therapy for Reducing Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Cancer Medicine November 1, 2015
- Randomized controlled pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction for persistently fatigued cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology August 17, 2014
- Mindfulness based interventions in multiple sclerosis--a systematic review. BMC Neurology January 17, 2014
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduces chronic cancer-related fatigue: a treatment study. Psycho-Oncology March 2012
- Mindfulness based stress reduction in post-treatment breast cancer patients: an examination of symptoms and symptom clusters. Journal of Behavioral Medicine February 2012
and 4 more in the library