Effects of Mediation-Based Stress Reduction in Younger Women With Breast Cancer
Abstract
Women with breast cancer who receive psychosocial interventions may have longer disease-free and total survival. Psychological distress seems to be particularly acute in younger women with breast cancer, a population that seems particularly amenable to psychosocial interventions. In designing studies to test for the effects of interventions aiming to alter psychological state, there are concerns that inferences may be hampered by the need to control for non-specific (therapy-related) factors. For this reason, the BRIDGES study was designed with two control groups; a conventional, no-treatment control and an intensive dietary intervention attentionally equivalent to the active mindfulness meditation-based intervention (SRC). Data collection for this three-armed study was completed in April 1999. Results indicate an overall beneficial effect of the SRC that was persistent over time and stronger in women with high baseline emotional distress. Nutrition-related effects were associated exclusively with nutrition-related outcomes, indicating that the SRC effects were specific to that intervention and not just due to non-specific therapy-related factors. There were no effects observed in the usual care control group. Numerous presentations have been made on the findings from this study and the major outcome papers are in various stages of completion, as of this Final Report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADB258846
Entities
People
- James R Hébert
Organizations
- University of Massachusetts Medical School