Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognitive impairment in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Shuqin Jiang, Yaoyao Sun, Lixiang Yu, Xinjie Hu, Jie Li
International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP January 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2025.100576
Summary
A promising insight from a systematic review and meta-analysis reveals mindfulness interventions can significantly improve cognitive function in cancer patients. Many face cognitive impairment, affecting their quality of life. This research found mindfulness enhanced patients' subjective cognitive ability both immediately and at follow-up. While objective cognitive function wasn't impacted, the positive effects on perceived cognitive function are clear. Mindfulness offers a vital path for cancer survivors.
Abstract
Cognitive impairment has been widely reported among cancer survivors, significantly impacting their quality of life. Mindfulness interventions are increasingly used to alleviate cognitive impairment in patients with cancer. This study aimed to assess the effects of mindfulness interventions on cognitive impairment in patients with cancer post-intervention and at follow-up. Up until February 2024, five English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wan Fang, and CBM) were searched to identify relevant studies. To determine the effect size, we used random effects model to compute the standardized mean difference and 95 % confidence intervals. We included 23 randomized controlled trials and seven non-randomized controlled trials. Mindfulness interventions significantly improved patients' subjective cognitive function post-intervention (SMDbetween-group=0.81, 95 %CI: 0.58 to 1.03; SMDwithin-group=1.12, 95 %CI: 0.71 to 1.52) and at follow-up (SMDbetween-group=0.39, 95 %CI: 0.09 to 0.68; SMDwithin-group=0.59, 95 %CI: 0.35 to 0.82). Subgroup analysis indicated significantly larger effect of the interventions in developing countries than those in developed countries (p between-group=0.014; p within-group=0.008), and of the interventions without additional home practice than those with home practice in within-group comparisons (p between-group=0.217; p within-group=0.018). There were no significant differences in the effects between interventions lasting ≥eight weeks and < eight weeks (p between-group=0.093; p between-group=0.303). However, no significant effects were observed on objective cognitive function. Mindfulness-based interventions can effectively improve the subjective cognitive function in cancer patients both post-intervention and at follow-up. Future intervention research should take into account regions, home practice, and intervention duration.