title: A pilot study evaluating the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychological status, physical status, salivary cortisol, and interleukin-6 among advanced-stage cancer patients and their caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether a mindfulness-based stress reduction program for cancer (MBSR-C) improved psychological and physical symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and stress markers among advanced-stage cancer patients and caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot within-subject design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients previously diagnosed with advanced-stage breast, colon, lung, or prostate cancer and on treatment were recruited from the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Twenty-six patient-caregiver dyads completed a modified 6-week, self-study MBSR-C program based on the Kabat-Zinn model. Psychological and physical symptoms and QOL were compared pre- and post-MBSR-C sessions. Salivary cortisol and interleukin-6 were assessed pre- and post-MBSR-C session at 1, 3, and 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the 6-week MBSR program, patients showed improvements in stress and anxiety (p < .05); caregivers' psychological and QOL also improved but were not statistically significant. Both patients and caregivers had decreases in cortisol at Weeks 1 and 3 (p < .05) but not at Week 6. Similar to cortisol levels at Week 6, salivary interleukin-6 levels were lower overall (before/after an MBSR-C session), compared with Week 1 for patients and caregivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBSR-C may be a beneficial intervention for reducing stress, anxiety, cortisol levels, and symptoms in advanced-stage cancer patients and may also benefit caregivers.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, FL 33612-4476, USA. clengach@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: Cecile A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lengacher
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kip
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barta
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Post-White
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groer
authors.forename: Brandy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Manolete S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Moscoso
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kadel
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loftus
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Mokenge P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Malafa
authors.forename: Melissa Molinari
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shelton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D006854:Hydrocortisone