title: A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults After Cancer Treatment: Effects on Quality of Life, Emotional Distress, and Cognitive Vulnerability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adolescent and young adult cancer (AYAC) survivors show an elevated risk of distress. Targeted psychosocial interventions for this distinct population are needed. This study examined the potential efficacy of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to alleviate emotional distress and improve quality of life (QoL) in AYAC survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 16 AYAC survivors, aged 14-24, who had completed acute medical treatment. A two-baseline (8 and 1 week before the intervention), post- (1 week after the intervention) and 3 months follow-up within-subjects design was used. Each participant completed two baseline assessments, followed by an 8-week MBI. The primary outcome variables were emotional distress and QoL. Secondary outcomes were cognitive vulnerability factors and mindfulness skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multilevel modeling showed (1) a significant reduction in emotional distress and improvement in QoL at 3 months of follow-up, (2) a significant reduction in negative attitudes toward self (i.e., a cognitive vulnerability factor), and (3) a significant improvement in mindfulness skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBI is a promising approach that is used to treat emotional distress and to improve QoL in AYAC survivors. Further research using randomized controlled trials is needed to generalize these findings. Trial registration information: www.trialregister.nl ; NTR4358.
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven, Belgium .
authors.forename: Katleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van der Gucht
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven, Belgium .
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven , Leuven, Belgium .
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Labarque
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven , Leuven, Belgium .
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandenabeele
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital , Ghent, Belgium .
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nolf
authors.affiliation: 4 Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and HIV, Antwerp University Hospital , Edegem, Belgium .
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuylen
authors.affiliation: 5 Medical Oncology & Haematology KZ, Brussel University Hospital , Jette, Belgium .
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cosyns
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven, Belgium .
authors.forename: Nady
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Broeck
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven, Belgium .
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuppens
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven, Belgium .
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000073116:Cancer Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive vulnerability; emotional distress; mindfulness; open trial; quality of life