Tibetan sound meditation for cognitive dysfunction: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial

Abstract

Objective Although chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment is common among breast cancer patients, evidence for effective interventions addressing cognitive deficits is limited. This randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a Tibetan Sound Meditation (TSM) program to improve cognitive function and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Methods Forty-seven breast cancer patients (mean age 56.3 years), who were staged I–III at diagnosis, 6–60 months post-chemotherapy, and reported cognitive impairment at study entry were recruited. Participants were randomized to either two weekly TSM sessions for 6 weeks or a wait list control group. Neuropsychological assessments were completed at baseline and 1 month post-treatment. Self-report measures of cognitive function (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Cog), quality of life (SF-36), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), and spirituality (FACT-Sp) were completed at baseline, the end of treatment, and 1 month later. Results Relative to the control group, women in the TSM group performed better on the verbal memory test (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test trial 1) (p = 0.06) and the short-term memory and processing speed task (Digit Symbol) (p = 0.09) and reported improved cognitive function (p = 0.06), cognitive abilities (p = 0.08), mental health (p = 0.04), and spirituality (p = 0.05) at the end of treatment but not 1 month later. Conclusions This randomized controlled trial revealed that TSM program appears to be a feasible and acceptable intervention and may be associated with short-term improvements in objective and subjective cognitive function as well as mental health and spirituality in breast cancer patients.

Mind-Body Practices in Cancer Care

“…A small RCT of Tibetan Sound Meditation (TSM) for women with breast cancer reporting chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment was recently published [29]. Forty-seven women with breast cancer (stage I-III) were randomized to TSM or a wait list usual care control group.…”

Evidence-Based Interventions for Cancer- and Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment

“…Tibetan sound meditation, which includes breathing awareness, concentration techniques, and visualization and sound exercises, was piloted in a randomized, controlled trial with 47 breast cancer survivors (Milbury et al, 2013). Although improvement was noted in verbal memory, short-term memory, speed of processing, and subjective cognitive function, these results were not statistically significant, and further research is warranted.…”

“…Likely to Be Effective• Cognitive training: group(Hassler et al, 2010;Poppelreuter et al, 2009;Von Ah et al, 2012) • Cognitive training: individual(Gehring et al, 2009;Kesler et al, 2013;Miotto et al, 2013;Zucchella et al, 2013) Effectiveness Not Established • Cognitive-behavioral training(Cherrier et al, 2013;Ferguson et al, 2007Ferguson et al, , 2012Goedendorp et al, 2014;Locke et al, 2008;McDougall et a., 2011;Sherer et al, 1997) • Electroencephalography or neurofeedback(Alvarez et al, 2013) • Exercise(Baumann et al, 2011;Korstjens et al, 2006;Reid-Arndt et al, 2012;Schwartz et al, 2002) • Meditation(Milbury et al, 2013) • Mindfulness-based stress reduction(Hoffmann et al, 2012) …”

Putting Evidence Into Practice: Evidence-Based Interventions for Depression

“…Meditation was studied in patients with breast cancer in two randomized, controlled trials (Kim, Kim, Ahn, Seo, & Kim, 2013;Milbury et al, 2013). No effect was found on depression one month postintervention.…”