P3.05-008 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Added to Care as Usual for Lung Cancer Patients and Their Partners: A Randomized Controlled Trial: Topic: Symptoms, Therapeutic Interventions

Abstract

Lung cancer patients and their partners report among the highest distress rates of all cancer patients. Possibly because of the poor prognosis and fast deterioration of physical health, limited research has been conducted in lung cancer on how to reduce patients’ and partners’ distress levels. The present study examined the effectiveness of additional Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (CAU+MBSR) versus solely care as usual (CAU) to reduce psychological distress in lung cancer patients and partners. We performed a multicenter, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01494883). Patients with lung cancer and their partners were randomly allocated to CAU+MBSR or CAU. MBSR is an 8-week group-based intervention, including mindfulness practice and psycho-education on stress. CAU included anti-cancer treatment, medical consultations and supportive care. The primary outcome was psychological distress. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, caregiver burden, relationship satisfaction, mindfulness skills, self-compassion, rumination and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Linear mixed modeling was conducted on an intention-to-treat sample. Moderation analyses were performed. 31 patients and 21 partners were randomized to CAU+MBSR and 32 patients and 23 partners to CAU. CAU+MBSR patients reported significantly less psychological distress (p=.010, d=.69) than CAU patients. Baseline distress levels moderated outcome: those with more distress benefitted most from MBSR. Additionally, CAU+MBSR patients showed more improvements in quality of life (p=.044, d=.62), mindfulness skills (p=.005, d=.76), self-compassion (p=.017, d=.75) and rumination (p=.015, d=.70) than CAU patients. In partners, no differences were found between groups. Our findings suggest that psychological distress in lung cancer patients can be effectively treated with MBSR. No effect was found in partners. More research is needed on facilitators and barriers of participation to make effective psychosocial interventions more accessible to lung cancer patients and their partners.