Mindfulness Based Therapy in Cancer Patients: Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Evidence suggested that mindfulness-based techniques have been effective in increasing psychological well-being. The present meta-analytic study aimed to examine the effects of mindfulness-based programmes on anxiety, and depression in cancer infected and survivors. Improvement in mindfulness across groups were also studied. Using various search items (e.g., MBCT, MBSR, Cancer). A systematic search of the electronic databases, reference list, and journal content lists were conducted from June 2011 to June 2020. Fourteen randomized controlled trials (N = 1831) evaluating effect of mindfulness in reducing anxiety and depression in cancer, measuring at pre-and-post interventions were included in this study. Random effects model was utilized for effect-size calculation. Interventions were between 5-8 weeks, with majority of participants been female (98.79%). Significant medium effect was observed for anxiety (g = 0.34) and depression (g = 0.32) with moderate heterogeneity and higher for mindfulness (g = 1.061) with high heterogeneity. Publication bias was not observed. Mindfulness has substantial effects in reducing anxiety and depression in cancer infected and survivors.

A Comparison of Two Scales to Determine Prevalence of Mood Disorders in Omani Patients Recently Diagnosed with Cancer

“…It has been increasingly recognized that mindfulness-based techniques may be effective in increasing psychological well-being (Hofmann et al, 2010). A meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials including cancer patients at different stages of disease trajectory was recently reported (Yadav and Kumar, 2021). The conclusions of this study suggest a medium size effect in reducing both anxiety and depression in cancer patients and survivors.…”