An RCT evaluating of mindfulness-based stress reduction in mood, breast- and endocrine-related quality-of-life and wellbeing in stages 0 to III breast cancer [Abstract]

BACKGROUND: There is an ongoing need to explore effective ways of self-management in breast cancer. AIMS: To assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in women with stages 0 to III breast cancer relating to mood , breast- and endocrine-specific qualityof- life and wellbeing. METHODS: A randomized wait-list controlled trial was carried out at The Haven in London with 229 women following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to the 8- week MBSR programme or standard care. Profile of Mood States (POMS) (primary outcome), FACT-B and FACT-ES and WHO-5 Wellbeing scales evaluated mood, quality-of-life and wellbeing at weeks 0, 8 and 12. Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed. RESULTS: After adjusting for baseline there were statistically significant improvements from MBSR compared to controls for POMS and subscales: tension, depression, anger, vigour, fatigue and confusion, with differences at both T2 and T3, except for depression (8-weeks only) and anger (12-weeks only). For FACT-B, FACT-ES and subscales: physical-, social-, emotional-,functional-wellbeing, and WHO-5 wellbeing questionnaire there were significantly better mean scores in the experimental group at both T2 and T3 except for social wellbeing (T2 only). For emotional wellbeing there was some evidence that treatment effects at T3 were statistically significantly greater that at T2. CONCLUSIONS: MSBR improved mood, breast- and endocrine-related quality-of-life and wellbeing more effectively than standard care in women with stages 0 to III breast cancer and these results persisted at 3 months. This is novel data with positive implications for practice and further research