| Title: | Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in Post-Treatment Breast Cancer Patients: An Examination of Symptoms and Symptom Clusters |
|---|---|
| Author: | Lengacher, C. A. Reich, R. R. Post-White, J. Moscoso, M. Shelton, M. M. Barta, M. Le, N. Budhrani, P. |
| Mediagroup: | journal article |
| Publisher: | --- |
| Zeitschrift: | Journal of Behavioral Medicine |
| Jahr: | 2012 |
| Band: | 35 |
| Heft: | 1 |
| Seiten: | 86-94 |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | To investigate prevalence and severity of symptoms and symptom clustering in breast cancer survivors who attended MBSR(BC). Women were randomly assigned into MBSR(BC) or Usual Care (UC). Eligible women were >/= 21 years, had been diagnosed with breast cancer and completed treatment within 18 months of enrollment. Symptoms and interference with daily living were measured pre- and post-MBSR(BC) using the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. Symptoms were reported as highly prevalent but severity was low. Fatigue was the most frequently reported and severe symptom among groups. Symptoms clustered into 3 groups and improved in both groups. At baseline, both MBSR(BC) and the control groups showed similar mean symptom severity and interference; however, after the 6-week post-intervention, the MBSR(BC) group showed statistically-significant reduction for fatigue and disturbed sleep (P < 0.01) and improved symptom interference items, compared to the control group. For the between-group comparisons, 11 of 13 symptoms and 5 of 6 interference items had lower means in the MBSR(BC) condition than the control condition. These results suggest that MBSR(BC) modestly decreases fatigue and sleep disturbances, but has a greater effect on the degree to which symptoms interfere with many facets of life. Although these results are preliminary, MBSR intervention post-treatment may effectively reduce fatigue and related interference in QOL of breast cancer survivors. |