title: Tibetan sound meditation for cognitive dysfunction: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment is common among breast cancer patients, evidence for effective interventions addressing cognitive deficits is limited. This randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a Tibetan Sound Meditation (TSM) program to improve cognitive function and quality of life in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven breast cancer patients (mean age 56.3 years), who were staged I-III at diagnosis, 6-60 months post-chemotherapy, and reported cognitive impairment at study entry were recruited. Participants were randomized to either two weekly TSM sessions for 6 weeks or a wait list control group. Neuropsychological assessments were completed at baseline and 1 month post-treatment. Self-report measures of cognitive function (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Cog), quality of life (SF-36), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), and spirituality (FACT-Sp) were completed at baseline, the end of treatment, and 1 month later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to the control group, women in the TSM group performed better on the verbal memory test (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test trial 1) (p = 0.06) and the short-term memory and processing speed task (Digit Symbol) (p = 0.09) and reported improved cognitive function (p = 0.06), cognitive abilities (p = 0.08), mental health (p = 0.04), and spirituality (p = 0.05) at the end of treatment but not 1 month later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This randomized controlled trial revealed that TSM program appears to be a feasible and acceptable intervention and may be associated with short-term improvements in objective and subjective cognitive function as well as mental health and spirituality in breast cancer patients.
authors: Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Milbury
authors: Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chaoul
authors: Health Policy Research Institute, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Biegler
authors: Ligmincha Institute, Shipman, VA, USA.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Wangyal
authors: Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Spelman
authors: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Meyers
authors: Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Arun
authors: Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Palmer
authors: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Taylor
authors: Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods*; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: breast cancer; chemotherapy; cognitive dysfunction; meditation;mental health; quality of life
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