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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Oct;22(10):2354-63.
doi: 10.1002/pon.3296. Epub 2013 May 9.

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

K Milbury  1 , A Chaoul  1 , K Biegler  2 , T Wangyal  3 , A Spelman  1 , C A Meyers  4 , B Arun  5 , J L Palmer  6 , J Taylor  4 , L Cohen  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

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

K Milbury et al. Psychooncology. 2013 Oct.

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.

Keywords: breast cancer; chemotherapy; cognitive dysfunction; meditation;mental health; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1
Consort chart
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References

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