Internet-delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for anxiety and depression in cancer survivors: Predictors of treatment response

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100365Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • The present study evaluated predictors of treatment response in Internet-delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy(iMBCT)

  • iMBCT is efficacious in reducing psychological distress in cancer survivors

  • Higher levels of baseline depression predicted increased treatment response for anxiety

  • Lower levels of baseline self-compassion predicted increased treatment response for depression

  • Age, time since diagnosis, and educational level did not predict treatment response after participating in iMBCT

Abstract

Background

The present study investigates possible predictors of treatment response in an Internet-delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (iMBCT) intervention with therapist support. This iMBCT program, a fully online delivered intervention with asynchronous therapist support, has previously been shown to be efficacious in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in women treated for breast cancer and men treated for prostate cancer.

Methods

Eighty-two breast- and prostate cancer survivors experiencing psychological distress received 8 weeks of therapist-guided iMBCT. Primary outcomes were improvement in anxiety and depression scores from baseline to post-treatment and from baseline to six-months follow-up. Clinical predictors included levels of depression and anxiety at the time of screening and at baseline, as well as time since diagnosis. Demographic predictors included age and educational level. Therapy-related predictors included working alliance, self-compassion, and five facets of mindfulness. Mixed Linear Models were employed to test the prediction effects over time.

Results

Higher levels of baseline depression were associated with increased treatment response in anxiety at post-treatment, and lower levels of self-compassion were associated with increased treatment response in depression at post-treatment. None of the proposed predictors significantly predicted treatment response at six-months follow-up.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that iMBCT can be provided for cancer survivors regardless of their age, educational level, and time since diagnosis (up to five years) and that therapeutic alliance is not crucial for treatment response. We did not identify characteristics predicting treatment response, although many factors were tested. Still, other characteristics may be predictors, and given the relatively small sample size and a large number of statistical tests, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Abbreviations

MBCT
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
iMBCT
Internet-delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
MBI
Mindfulness-Based Intervention
iMBI
Internet-delivered Mindfulness-Based Intervention
MBSR
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
RCT
randomized controlled trial
BDI-II
Beck Depression Inventory II
STAI-Y
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Y-Form
WAI-C
Working Alliance Inventory – Client Form
SCS-SF
Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form
FFMQ-SF
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire – Short Form
FFMQ-SF-DS
FFMQ-SF subscale Describing
FFMQ-SF-NR
FFMQ-SF subscale Non-Reactivity to inner experience
FFMQ-SF-NJ
FFMQ-SF subscale Non-Judging of inner experience
FFMQ-SF-OB
FFMQ-SF subscale Observing
FFMQ-SF-AA
FFMQ-SF subscale Acting with Awareness

Keywords

Internet-delivered therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Anxiety
Depression
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer

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