One year pre-post intervention follow-up of psychological, immune, endocrine and blood pressure outcomes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in breast and prostate cancer outpatients.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the ongoing effects of participation in a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on quality of life (QL), symptoms of stress, mood and endocrine, immune and autonomic parameters in early stage breast and prostate cancer patients.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients with breast cancer and 10 with prostate cancer enrolled in an eight-week MBSR program that incorporated relaxation, meditation, gentle yoga and daily home practice. Demographic and health behaviors, QL, mood, stress symptoms, salivary cortisol levels, immune cell counts, intracellular cytokine production, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine, 51, 47 and 41 patients were assessed pre- and post-intervention and at 6- and 12-month follow-up, respectively, although not all participants provided data on all outcomes at each time point. Linear mixed modeling showed significant improvements in overall symptoms of stress which were maintained over the follow-up period. Cortisol levels decreased systematically over the course of the follow-up. Immune patterns over the year supported a continued reduction in Th1 (pro-inflammatory) cytokines. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from pre- to post-intervention and HR was positively associated with self-reported symptoms of stress.


CONCLUSIONS
MBSR program participation was associated with enhanced quality of life and decreased stress symptoms, altered cortisol and immune patterns consistent with less stress and mood disturbance, and decreased blood pressure. These pilot data represent a preliminary investigation of the longer-term relationships between MBSR program participation and a range of potentially important biomarkers.
Carlson
Linda E
LE
Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre Holy Cross Site, Alberta Cancer Board, 2202 Second St. S.W., Calgary, Alta., Canada T3B 0W7. lindacar@cancerboard.ab.ca
Speca
Michael
M
Faris
Peter
P
Patel
Kamala D
KD
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical / Q000502:physiology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D006854:Hydrocortisone