Ando, M., Morita, T., Akechi, T., Ito, S., Tanaka, M., Ifuku, Y., & Nakayama, T. (2009). The efficacy of mindfulness-based meditation therapy on anxiety, depression, and spirituality in Japanese patients with cancer. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 12,1091–1094.

To determine the effects of a mindfulness intervention on anxiety, depression, and spirituality

The intervention involved 30–60-minute cyclic meditation and yoga training with practice at home. In pretherapy sessions, patients learned the cyclic meditation program and were recommended to perform the therapy at home once daily. After two weeks, patients met therapists in a second session to talk about their impressions.

• The study reported on a sample of 28 patients.
• Mean patient age was 60 years (SD = 9.2).
• The sample was 85.7% female and 14.3% male.
• Most patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, with other sites including colon, stomach, and bladder.
• All patients were actively receiving either chemotherapy, radiation, or medication at a general hospital.

• Single site
• Outpatient clinic
• Western Japan

Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.

A pre/post-intervention study design was used.

• Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spirituality (FACIT-Sp)
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Caregiving Consequence Inventory: Selected two items to measure appreciation
• Benefit Finding Scale: Three items to measure growth
• Pain and physical symptoms measured on a 10-point numeric scale

Anxiety (p = 0.01) and depression (p = 0.009) decreased significantly. There was no significant change related to spirituality. Spirituality is correlated with anxiety and depression.

Mindfulness-based cyclic meditation affects anxiety and depression for Japanese patients with cancer and may be effective as an individual short-term therapy.

• The study had a small sample.
• The study did not have a control or comparison group.
• No information was given regarding patients’ adherence to home practice.

This type of intervention may be helpful to some patients to affect anxiety and depression during cancer treatment. The amount of training required for administration of the therapy, as well as therapist time with the patient, suggests that this approach may be feasible.