title: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for individuals whose lives have been affected by cancer: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for individuals with a diagnosis of cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 115) diagnosed with cancer, across site and stage, were randomly allocated to either the treatment or the wait-list condition. Treatment was conducted at 1 site, by a single therapist, and involved participation in 8 weekly 2-hr sessions that focused on mindfulness. Participants meditated for up to 1 hr daily and attended an additional full-day session during the course. Participants were assessed before treatment and 10 weeks later; this second assessment occurred immediately after completion of the program for the treatment condition. The treatment condition was also assessed at 3 months postintervention. All postinitial assessments were completed by assessors who were blind to treatment allocation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were large and significant improvements in mindfulness (effect size [ES] = 0.55), depression (ES = 0.83), anxiety (ES = 0.59), and distress (ES = 0.53) as well as a trend for quality of life (ES = 0.30) for MBCT participants compared to those who had not received the training. The wait-list group was assessed before and after receiving the intervention and demonstrated similar change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These improvements represent clinically meaningful change and provide evidence for the provision of MBCT within oncology settings.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute NSW.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Emotional Health.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3424-5703
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.affiliation: Lismore Community Mental Health.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huxter
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sinclair
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome