Mindfulness after cancer treatment
The impact of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for adolescents and young adults after cancer treatment on psychosocial parameters: an exploratory study (Boost Your Mind).
Funding
Why this trial
Adolescent and young adult cancer (AYAC) survivors experience more complex, more severe and longer-lasting emotional distress than children or adults with similar diagnoses. Besides dealing with the consequences of their illnesses and treatments, puberty also complicates AYAC survivors’ lives. The depression, anxiety, or other forms of distress they experience often become worse years after cancer treatment has ended. However, the psychosocial needs of these patients have remained largely unmet. Research concerning AYAC survivors focussing on symptom management after treatment has ended is scarce and more age-appropriate interventions were needed.
Why this intervention
The origin of mindfulness (an intervention - not a drug) lies in Buddhism, growing from the philosophy that worrying about the past and the future leads to distress. In recent years, research has explored the effects of mindfulness training on young adults. A study of more than 400 adolescents in Flemish schools revealed that young adults who had followed mindfulness training scored better psychologically, and that these improvements were visible even 6 months after the end of the training sessions. Furthermore, mindfulness did not only help prevent mental health problems, but also alleviated psychological problems.
Trial design
In this exploratory trial, 4 Belgian centres recruited 16 AYAC survivors, aged 14 to 24, who had completed cancer treatment. After 2 baseline assessments, patients followed an 8-week mindfulness training course. Patients were evaluated twice: at one week and three months after mindfulness training. The primary objective was to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety.
Results
Multilevel modeling revealed three key findings:
- Emotional distress decreased significantly, and quality of life improved after 3 months of follow-up.
- Negative attitudes toward oneself, a cognitive vulnerability factor, decreased significantly.
- Mindfulness skills showed significant improvement.
These results suggest that mindfulness-based interventions hold promise for reducing emotional distress and enhancing quality of life in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. However, more research using randomized controlled trials is necessary to confirm these findings across a wider population.
The publication is available here.
Partners
Coordinating Investigator:
- Kathleen Van der Gucht, Department of Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Sponsor:
- University Hospital of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Others:
- Inge De Leeuw, trainer MINDaWARE Foundation
Our role
Why we support this trial
Intervention has little or no commercial value
No major hurdle for clinical implementation
Funding
References
Van der Gucht, K., et al. (2017). A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults After Cancer Treatment: Effects on Quality of Life, Emotional Distress, and Cognitive Vulnerability. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 6(2), 307-317 doi:10.1089/jayao.2016.0070
Author: Kristine Beckers (Trial Manager)
Last updated: March 2024.