The impact of mindfulness-based interventions on symptom burden, positive psychological outcomes, and biomarkers in cancer patients

Abstract

Research on the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction and related mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in cancer care has proliferated over the past decade. MBIs have aimed to facilitate physical and emotional adjustment to life with cancer through the cultivation and practice of mindfulness (ie, purposeful, nonjudgmental, moment-to-moment awareness). This descriptive review highlights three categories of outcomes that have been evaluated in MBI research with cancer patients – namely, symptom reduction, positive psychological growth, and biological outcomes. We also examine the clinical relevance of each targeted outcome, while describing recently published original studies to highlight novel applications of MBIs tailored to individuals with cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that participation in a MBI contributes to reductions in psychological distress, sleep disturbance, and fatigue, and promotes personal growth in areas such as quality of life and spirituality. MBIs may also influence markers of immune function, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis regulation, and autonomic nervous system activity, though it remains unclear whether these biological changes translate to clinically important health benefits. We conclude by discussing methodological limitations of the extant literature, and implications of matching MBIs to the needs and preferences of cancer patients. Overall, the growing popularity of MBIs in cancer care must be balanced against scientific evidence for their impact on specific clinical outcomes.

Advancing psychosocial care in cancer patients

“…pain) 54 and in improving quality of life, wellbeing, return to work 55 , 56 , illness behaviour, and possibly survival 57 – 59 . The interventions with the most empirical support for treating distress in cancer patients include supportive-expressive group psychotherapy 60 , cognitive-behavioural 61 and cognitive-existential therapy 62 , meaning-centred psychotherapy 63 , 64 , mindfulness, and mindfulness stress reduction programs 65 – 67 (see also 68 – 70 ). Also, there is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of integrative therapies, especially mind-body therapies, as effective supportive care strategies during cancer treatment, although many practices remain understudied, with insufficient evidence to be definitively recommended or avoided 71 .…”

Person-Centered Primary Care Strategies for Assessment of and Intervention for Aggressive Behaviors in Dementia

“…MBSR is a technique that uses mindfulness to reduce stress and manage hardship (Rouleau, Garland, & Carlson, 2015). Specifically, this technique involves increasing awareness of the present and passively noting current thoughts and experiences without judging them.…”

Potential Mechanisms of Mindfulness in Improving Sleep and Distress

“…For instance, higher levels of dispositional mindfulness were associated with better quality of sleep and better physical health in female college students (Murphy et al 2012 ). On the other hand, mindfulness interventions were shown to improve sleep quality in cancer patients (Rouleau et al 2015 ), healthy young adults (van der Riet et al 2015 ), healthy elderly people (Black et al 2015 ), and elderly subjects with chronic insomnia (Zhang et al 2015 ). A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that 6 weeks to 2 months of mindfulness trainings significantly improved sleep quality in people with chronic insomnia or other sleep problems (Gong et al 2016 ).…”