Consolidation and prediction of long-term treatment effect of group and online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for distressed cancer patients

Authors

  • L. Cillessen Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center for Mindfulness, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; ;Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • M. P. J. Schellekens Scientific Research Department, Centre for Psycho-Oncology, Helen Dowling Institute, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
  • M. O. M. Van de Ven Faculty of Social Sciences, Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • A. R. T. Donders Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • F. R. Compen Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center for Mindfulness, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; ;Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • E. M. Bisseling Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center for Mindfulness, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; ;Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • M. L. Van der Lee Scientific Research Department, Centre for Psycho-Oncology, Helen Dowling Institute, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
  • A. E. M. Speckens Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center for Mindfulness, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; ;Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2018.1479071

Abstract

Background: Group face-to-face and individual internet-based mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT and eMBCT) have been demonstrated to reduce psychological distress for distressed cancer patients in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This study focused on the long-term effects of this RCT during the nine-month follow-up period, and on possible predictors, moderators and working mechanisms.

Methods: Distressed cancer patients (n = 245) were randomized to MBCT or eMBCT. Data were collected at baseline, post-treatment, three- and nine-month follow-up. Data were analyzed with linear mixed effect models and (hierarchical) linear regressions.

Results: Analyses revealed long-term reductions in psychological distress and rumination, and long-term increases in positive mental health and mental health-related quality of life (QoL) in both interventions over the course of the nine-month follow-up. Interestingly, patients reported less psychological distress in the follow-up period after eMBCT in comparison to MBCT. Less psychological distress, rumination and neuroticism, and more extraversion and agreeableness at baseline predicted less psychological distress at the nine-month follow-up after both interventions. Less mindful and conscientious patients at baseline benefited more from eMBCT than from MBCT. Regarding working mechanisms, changes in mindfulness skills, fear of cancer recurrence and rumination during both interventions predicted less psychological distress at follow-up.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest most improvements in cancer patients’ increase over time after both interventions. Furthermore, patients seemed to benefit more from eMBCT than MBCT based on psychological distress levels, especially those patients with low levels of mindfulness skills and conscientiousness.

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Published

2018-10-03

How to Cite

Cillessen, L. ., Schellekens, M. P. J. ., Van de Ven, M. O. M. ., Donders, A. R. T. ., Compen, F. R. ., Bisseling, E. M. ., … Speckens, A. E. M. . (2018). Consolidation and prediction of long-term treatment effect of group and online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for distressed cancer patients. Acta Oncologica, 57(10), 1293–1302. https://doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2018.1479071

Issue

Vol. 57 No. 10 (2018): Acta Oncologica

Section

Articles