Mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive function among breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) could improve cognitive outcomes, specifically memory-related impairments, in breast cancer survivors who had undergone chemotherapy.
Results Summary
MBSR participants showed a significant reduction in subjective memory failures (prospective and retrospective) at 2 weeks post-intervention, but no effects were observed on objective cognitive assessments. The study suggests MBSR may help mitigate subjective memory difficulties in this population.
Population
Breast cancer survivors with neuropathic pain who had received chemotherapy.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
3 months (assessments at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months post-MBSR)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | prospective and retrospective memory failures | BC survivors who receive treatment with chemotherapy | - | showed a significantly greater reduction | #1 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | no change | objective assessments | BC survivors who receive treatment with chemotherapy | - | No effects were noted | #2 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | decrease | subjective memory-related impairments | BC survivors who receive treatment with chemotherapy | - | reduces | #3 |
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) survivors frequently report changes in cognition after chemotherapy. Mindfulness may benefit survivors by mitigating cancer-related cognitive impairment. As part of a larger study investigating the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for BC survivors living with neuropathic pain, the authors assessed whether MBSR would have an effect on cognitive outcomes. METHODS: Participants were randomized to an MBSR intervention group (n = 30) or a waitlist control group (n = 30). Cognitive assessments were administered at 3 time points: at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months post-MBSR in the intervention group and at equivalent time intervals for the control group. Multilevel models were used to assess whether MBSR significantly improved task performance at each time point. RESULTS: MBSR participants showed a significantly greater reduction in prospective and retrospective memory failures at 2 weeks postintervention. No effects of MBSR were noted for objective assessments. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that MBSR training reduces subjective (but not objective) memory-related impairments in BC survivors who receive treatment with chemotherapy. This study provides insight into a noninvasive intervention to ameliorate memory difficulties in BC survivors.