Systematic review of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in cancer patients

Stress has become a global public health problem with a variety of negative health consequences, including anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and even suicide.  Cancer patients report experiencing tremendous levels of stress and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) offers an effective way of reducing stress among this population by combining mindfulness meditation and yoga in an 8-week training program that communicates the importance of lifelong practice and engagement. The purpose of this study was to examine studies from September 2009 to January 2015 and examine whether mindfulness-based stress reduction can be utilized as a potentially valuable method for managing stress among cancer patients. A systematic search from Medline, CINAHL and Alt HealthWatch databases was conducted for all types of quantitative articles involving mindfulness-based stress reduction interventions targeting cancer patients.  A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. Eleven of these were from the United States, four from Canada, three from Sweden, two from Denmark, and one from the United Kingdom. Of the 21 studies, all demonstrated positive changes in psychological or physiological outcomes related to anxiety and/or stress. Despite the limitations of not all studies using randomized controlled design, having smaller sample sizes, having different outcomes, mindfulness-based stress reduction appears to be a promising modality for stress management among cancer patients.