title: Mindfulness based stress reduction in post-treatment breast cancer patients: an examination of symptoms and symptom clusters.
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.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612-4476, USA. Clengach@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: Cecile A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lengacher
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Post-White
authors.forename: Manolete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moscoso
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barta
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Pinky
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Budhrani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology