Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Jun;29(2):432-445.
doi: 10.1007/s10880-022-09862-z. Epub 2022 Mar 6.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Li-Ying Lin  1   2 , Li-Hua Lin  1 , Ghao-Ling Tzeng  1   3 , Ya-Hui Huang  1   4 , Jui-Fen Tai  1 , Yu-Ling Chen  1 , Chia-Jung Wu  1 , Pin-Hsi Chen  1 , Pei-Chin Lin  5   6 , Pi-Lien Hung  7   8
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Li-Ying Lin et al. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

This meta-analysis was a systematic review of evidence on the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on quality of life (QOL), pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. Until July 2020, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The study included 18 RCTs. The MBSR/MBCT intervention resulted in a significant effect on QOL (SMD 0.80, CI 0.28, 1.32, I2 = 94%). In subgroup analysis, MBSR/MBCT interventions had a significant effect in the early cancer stage on anxiety (SMD - 3.48, CI - 4.07, - 2.88), and QOL (SMD 4.30, CI 3.62, 4.99); in alleviating decreasing pain (SMD - 0.42, CI - 0.70, - 0.14) within 4 weeks after the end of intervention, and alleviating fatigue in younger participants (SMD - 0.64, CI - 1.09, - 0.19). MBSR/MBCT has short-term effects on cancer patients, especially in younger patients and early cancer stages.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Fatigue; Mindfulness-based therapy; Quality of life.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Andersen, S. R., Würtzen, H., Steding-Jessen, M., Christensen, J., Andersen, K. K., Flyger, H., Mitchelmore, C., Johansen, C., Mitchelmore, C., Johansen, C., & Dalton, S. O. (2013). Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sleep quality: Results of a randomized trial among Danish breast cancer patients. Acta Oncologica, 52(2), 336–344. https://doi.org/10.3109/0284186X.2012.745948 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Blaes, A. H., Fenner, D., Bachanova, V., Torkelson, C., Geller, M., Haddad, T., Shanley, R., & Kreitzer, M. J. (2016). Mindfulness-based cancer recovery in survivors recovering from chemotherapy and radiation. Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, 14, 351–358. - DOI
    1. Bower, J. E. (2014). Cancer-related fatigue–mechanisms, risk factors, and treatments. Nature Reviews: Clinical Oncology, 11(10), 597–609. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.127 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Branstrom, R., Kvillemo, P., Brandberg, Y., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2010). Self-report mindfulness as a mediator of psychological well-being in a stress reduction intervention for cancer patients–a randomized study. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 39(2), 151–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9168-6 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Branstrom, R., Kvillemo, P., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2012). A randomized study of the effects of mindfulness training on psychological well-being and symptoms of stress in patients treated for cancer at 6-month follow-up. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 19(4), 535–542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-011-9192-3 - DOI - PubMed - PMC

Publication types