Neoplasms

Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

All Conditions

Symptoms and General Pathology

Nervous System Diseases

Rare Diseases

Breast Neoplasms

Chronic Pain

Pain

Mastodynia

Breast Diseases

Skin Diseases

Neurologic Manifestations

Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease

This group will receive MBCT for 8 consecutive weeks.

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.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Waitlist: participants are offered the intervention (MBCT) after the completion of the main study

Waitlist

Maja Johannsen, PhD-fellow, MSc psychology

Robert Zachariae, Professor, MDSci., MSc

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.

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness on Chronic Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on Chronic Pain in Women Treated for Breast Cancer

the Experiences in Close Relationships Short Version

Revised McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form

VAS: pain interference

Additional items: Pain descriptors

the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization	Link
The Effectiveness of Mindfulness on Chronic Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors	NCT01674881	Breast Cancer Chronic Pain	Mindfulness-Bas... Waitlist	18 Years -	University of Aarhus
The Effectiveness of Mindfulness on Chronic Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors	NCT01674881	Breast Cancer Chronic Pain	Mindfulness-Bas... Waitlist	18 Years -	University of Aarhus

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for potential mediators and moderators