Skip to content

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on breast cancer symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis

Flávia del Castanhel, Rafaela Liberali

Einstein 2018 DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2018rw4383 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed
Population People with breast cancer
Intervention Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Topics Meditation
Citations 43
Key findings Across seven included studies, MBSR appeared to reduce fatigue in breast cancer patients, though the pooled result from two randomized studies was not statistically significant (mean difference -0.42, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.07; p=0.09). The authors conclude MBSR seems a promising complementary approach for managing breast cancer symptoms.

Abstract

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction practices increase the capacity for concentration and attention, and these practices are particularly effective for people with breast cancer. To analyze the effects of the application of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on breast cancer symptoms. Systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. To find suitable studies, the PubMed/ MEDLINE database was searched using the keywords "breast cancer" and "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction". Studies included were published between 2013 and 2017, written in English and showed methodological quality through the PEDro scale (score greater than 3). They also presented empirical evidence, had an experimental study design (randomized or non-randomized), and had full text available. For the meta-analysis, we used a random-effects model, with standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. Seven studies were included, one non-randomized and containing only an intervention group of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and six randomized including samples of two or three groups. The non-randomized study showed 6 points on the PEDro scale, the randomized studies of two groups 6 to 7 points and studies with three groups showed 7 points. In the meta-analysis of the two randomized studies, the results, although not significant, revealed a moderate effect for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on the outcome of fatigue, with a mean difference of -0.42 (95%CI -0.92- -0.07; p=0.09). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction seems to be a promising alternative for treatment of this disease's symptoms.

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 12

and 7 more in the library

Cites 22

and 17 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

Meditation