Proof-of-Concept of an Integrated Yoga and Psychological Intervention in Mitigating Distress Among Diverse Women With Gynecologic, Gastrointestinal, and Thoracic Cancers.
Grace Ann Hanvey, Elizabeth L Kacel, Kelsey C Bacharz, Adaixa Padrón Wilborn, Sonia Mesa, Halle McCracken, Irene M. Estores, Merry-Jennifer Markham, Frederic J Kaye, Dennie Jones, Thomas J George, Deidre B Pereira
Integrative Cancer Therapies 2024 DOI: 10.1177/15347354241283113 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Proof-of-concept single-arm study Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 125 |
| Population | Women with gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers, including women of color and lower socioeconomic status |
| Intervention | psychotherapy skills |
| Duration | 10-week intervention; outcomes measured at baseline and following intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Gastrointestinal neoplasms Thoracic neoplasms Genital neoplasms, female Neoplasm recurrence, local Stress, psychological Adult Middle aged Psychological distress Psychosocial intervention Psychological intervention Health disparities Psycho-oncology Cancer distress Yoga intervention |
| Registration | NCT03385577 |
| Key points | An integrated group yoga and psychological intervention was associated with reductions in total and somatic depressive symptoms and state anxiety. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with greater reductions in fear-of-recurrence distress and depressive symptoms, and women of color showed greater declines in somatic symptoms than non-Hispanic White women. The authors present these as proof-of-concept findings and call for a randomized controlled trial. |
Abstract
Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety are prevalent concerns among women with gynecologic and other understudied cancers, especially among women of color and lower socioeconomic status (SES). Evidence indicates that mind-body interventions are effective in reducing such distress. This study evaluates (1) proof-of-concept of an integrated group yoga and psychological intervention in alleviating distress among women with gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers and (2) differences in efficacy across social and economic factors.
Methods: One hundred twenty-five participants were enrolled in a 10-week, single-arm, integrated group intervention utilizing mindfulness meditation, psychotherapy skills, and yoga. They completed measures of FCR, cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety at baseline and following intervention. Mixed-linear models evaluated change in outcomes across the intervention and moderating effects of age, minority status, and SES among 51 participants with available data.
Results: Reductions in total (b = -2.06, P = .012) and somatic depressive symptoms (b = -1.79, P = .002) and state anxiety (b = -6.21, P = .005) were observed across the sample. Higher SES was associated with greater reductions in psychosocial distress related to FCR (b = -0.74, P = .050), and in total (b = -1.06, P = .049) and affective depressive symptoms (b = -0.76, P = .006). Women of color experienced greater declines in somatic symptoms compared to non-Hispanic White women (b = -2.71, P = .031), with women of color experiencing lower SES exhibiting greatest reduction in these symptoms (b = 1.73, P = .026).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates proof-of-concept that an integrated psychological and yoga intervention may reduce depressive symptoms and state anxiety among women with gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers, with racial and/or ethnic minority status and SES moderating some of these effects. Future research should examine intervention feasibility and acceptability among diverse women with cancer and evaluate efficacy using a randomized controlled trial design.Trial
Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03385577.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on anxiety, most cited first.