Breast Cancer, Chronic Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Mindfulness, breast cancer, chronic pain, mediators, distress, Breast cancer survivors, Effectiveness of MBCT on chronic pain, Potential mediators and moderators, Effectiveness of MBCT on psychological symptoms
Brief summary
A recent epidemiologic survey has indicated that approx. 42% of Danish women treated for breast cancer experience negative sequelae in the form of pain following treatment. Chronic pain is known to be associated with impaired social and emotional functioning, and thus presents a particular concern. Mindfulness-based intervention is among the complementary, psychological treatments, which cancer patients commonly seek out in relation to the course of their illness. Despite the popularity of mindfulness-based intervention among cancer patients, no studies have so far investigated the effect of mindfulness-based intervention on chronic pain in breast cancer patients. While no studies so far have focused on pain, there is evidence to suggest that mindfulness-based intervention is associated with improved psychosocial adaption to cancer. Furthermore, non-cancer research suggests that mindfulness-based intervention is associated with reduced pain experiences. The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on chronic pain in breast cancer patients. Women who have completed their treatment for breast cancer and who experience chronic pain, will be randomized to an intervention group (MBCT) or a treatment-as-usual control group. All participants will be assessed at the same time points, i.e. before the intervention (baseline), and three times after the intervention/control condition, with the last follow-up 6 months after the intervention. In addition, a number of potential moderators and mediators of the outcome will be explored. For example, recent studies indicate that adult attachment style may constitute an important moderator and/or mediator in the development of pain, and preliminary research has suggested that attachment style may moderate the effect of mindfulness-based intervention. The results will provide valuable new knowledge about the potential of MBCT as a treatment strategy for chronic pain in breast cancer patients, will contribute to the clarification of underlying mechanisms in the experience of and coping with pain, which could help the development of more effective, individualized interventions.
Interventions
OTHERMindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
MBCT consists of 8 sessions, incl. 1 whole-day session, weekly meetings of app. 2 hours duration. Daily homework (app. 30-45 min). Group format (app. 20 persons pr. group). Two trained instructors will manage the groups, both are MSc cand.psych, PhD.
OTHERWaitlist
Waitlist: participants are offered the intervention (MBCT) after the completion of the main study
Sponsors
University of Aarhus
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* A timeframe of \>3 months from surgery, radiation- and chemotherapy and a minimum score of \>3 on a pain scale from 0-10 corresponding to moderate pain
Exclusion criteria
* Breast cancer recurrence, bilateral breast cancer, other cancer, psychiatric illnesses, insufficient ability to speak and understand Danish, and chronic pain otherwise associated with the musculoskeletal system
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | From baseline until 6 months | Revised McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form VAS: pain interference Additional items: Pain descriptors |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness | From baseline until 6 months | The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire |
| Self compassion | From baseline until 6 months | the Self Compassion Scale Short Form |
| Pain Catastrophizing | From baseline until 6 months | the Pain Catastrophizing Scale |
| Depression and anxiety | From baseline until 6 months | the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale |
| Well-being | From baseline until 6 months | the WHO-5 |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment orientation | Baseline | the Experiences in Close Relationships Short Version |
| Alexithymia | From baseline until 6 months | the Toronto Alexithymia Scale |
Countries
Denmark
Outcome results
None listed