Changes in the cortisol awakening response (CAR) following participation in mindfulness-based stress reduction in women who completed treatment for breast cancer.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) affects the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and self-reported stress, depressive symptoms, and medical symptoms in women post-breast cancer treatment.
Results Summary
MBSR led to a prolonged increase in cortisol levels after awakening, alongside significant improvements in stress, depressive symptoms, and medical symptoms. Greater baseline CAR was associated with greater symptom reduction post-MBSR.
Population
Women who completed medical treatment for breast cancer.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program | increase | cortisol awakening response (CAR) | women after completion of their medical treatment for breast cancer | prolonged increase after awakening | significant effect | #1 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | self-reported stress levels | women after completion of their medical treatment for breast cancer | - | significant improvements | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | depressive symptomatology | women after completion of their medical treatment for breast cancer | - | significant improvements | #3 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | medical symptoms | women after completion of their medical treatment for breast cancer | - | significant improvements | #4 |
- | decrease | change in medical symptoms | women after completion of their medical treatment for breast cancer | r = -.52, p < .002 | negatively correlated | #5 |
BACKGROUND: Changes in the cortisol awakening response (CAR) were studied in women participating in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program after completion of their medical treatment for breast cancer. METHOD: Thirty-three women completed questionnaires pre- and post-MBSR pertaining to: stress, depressive symptomatology, and medical symptoms. The CAR was assessed on 3 days pre- and 3 days post-MBSR as a biological marker of stress. RESULTS: A significant effect on the CAR was found, with cortisol levels showing a prolonged increase after awakening at the post-MBSR assessment period. This was accompanied by significant improvements in self-reported stress levels, depressive symptomatology, and medical symptoms. Furthermore, the change in medical symptoms was negatively correlated with the area under the curve (AUC) at study onset (r = -.52, p < .002); i.e., the greater the AUC of the CAR before MBSR, the greater the reduction in medical symptoms after the program. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the potential usefulness of employing the CAR as a biological marker in women with breast cancer participating in an MBSR program.