Lesley Stafford , Fiona Judd, Jeremy Couper, Elizabeth Foley, Litza Kiropoulos
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Psychosocial interventions that effectively reduce the burden of disease associated with cancer are a priority in cancer care. Accumulating evidence shows that mindfulness, a meditative practice that teaches acceptance and non-judgment of one’s current experience, is associated with improved quality of life (QOL) in different populations. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a form of mindfulness originally developed to target ruminative processes associated with relapse to depression, has recently been modified for use in oncology. MBCT involves intensive training in mindfulness meditation, provision of theoretical material and group discussion. The therapy is delivered in eight weekly sessions of 2-hour duration to groups of 8-12 women.
To date, only one study has evaluated this therapy in cancer patients, reporting large and significant improvements in psychosocial distress among 115 mixed diagnoses patients. To further investigate the effectiveness of this novel therapy in cancer patients and its acceptability to consumers as a component of routine care in the Australian context and in women with gynaecologic and breast cancer, we are conducting a multi-site MBCT trial in 80 women receiving treatment or follow-up services for breast and gynaecologic cancer.
Women will be recruited from the Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH) Oncology unit, RWH/Royal Melbourne Hospital Breast Service, and Peter MacCallum Breast and Gynaecology Services. Participants will complete well validated, self-report measures of depression, anxiety, stress, QOL, mindfulness and post-traumatic growth prior to participating in the therapy (Time 1), at completion of the therapy (Time 2) and 12 weeks thereafter (Time 3). Suitability and acceptability of the therapy will be evaluated in the Time 2 questionnaire and also in focus group discussion with a subset of 8-12 participants.
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Research assistant: Penelope Gibson, Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Royal Women’s Hospital
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For more information please contact Dr Lesley Stafford
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Affiliations:
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Lesley Stafford
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Centre for Women's Mental Health, Royal Women's Hospital , University of Melbourne Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry
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Fiona Judd
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Centre for Women's Mental Health, Royal Women's Hospital and
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Department of Psychiatry; University of Melbourne
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Jeremy Couper
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Department of Psychiatry and Psycho-oncology Research Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Elizabeth Foley
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Director, Mind Potential; Counselling Service, University of Sydney
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Litza Kiropoulos
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Department of Psychology, Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne
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