Meditation for Lung Cancer

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+1 other location

Overseen by Kathrin Milbury, MA,PHD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Psychotherapy, Cancer support group, Others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Objectives: Our specific aims are to: Aim 1: Examine the feasibility of a couple-based meditation program in 50 patients with metastatic lung cancer and their partners. Aim 2: Establish the initial efficacy of a couple-based meditation program in patients and their partners regarding physical, psychological, and spiritual quality of life outcomes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your existing treatments, as the trial is focused on meditation and does not mention medication changes.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Couple-Based Meditation for lung cancer?

Research suggests that mindfulness and self-compassion, which are part of couple-based meditation, may help reduce distress and improve communication in couples facing lung cancer. These skills could positively impact how couples cope with the challenges of cancer.

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Is meditation safe for people with lung cancer?

Research on mindfulness and meditation for lung cancer patients and their partners suggests these practices are generally safe and may help reduce psychological distress. No specific safety concerns have been reported in the studies reviewed.

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How is the Couple-Based Meditation treatment different from other treatments for lung cancer?

Couple-Based Meditation is unique because it focuses on mindfulness and self-compassion skills for both lung cancer patients and their partners, aiming to reduce psychological distress and improve communication within the couple, rather than directly targeting the cancer itself.

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Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for patients over 18 with stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) who are being treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center and have an ECOG status of ≤2. They must live with a romantic partner for at least 6 months. Both patient and partner should speak English, be able to consent, and not participate in regular psychotherapy or cancer support groups.

Inclusion Criteria

ALL PHASES, PATIENTS AND PARTNERS: Must be at least 18 years old

ALL PHASES, PATIENTS ONLY: Diagnosed with stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Patients must have lived with their romantic partner for at least 6 months to be eligible for the study.

Exclusion Criteria

You regularly participate in therapy or a support group to help you cope with cancer.

ALL PHASES, PATIENTS AND PARTNERS: Not oriented to time, place, or person as deemed by the clinical team

ALL PHASES, PATIENTS AND PARTNERS: Prior enrollment in a couple-based mind-body intervention research study (protocols 2011-1179, 2013-0496, 2014-0036) conducted by the principal investigator including phase 1 or phase 2 of the current study.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Phase 1: Couple-Based Mindfulness Disclosure Group

Couples participate in 2 guided meditation sessions involving deep breathing and visualization exercises, followed by feedback and a written review.

2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Phase 2: Couple-Based Mindfulness Disclosure Group

Participants complete 12 questionnaires and participate in 4 guided meditation sessions with a trained instructor, including daily meditation practice at home.

4 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Phase 3: Cancer-Related Discussion Program Group

Participants and partners engage in a discussion program with a trained interventionist, focusing on coping with cancer.

4 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with questionnaires completed 3 months later.

3 months

Participant Groups

The study tests the feasibility of a couple-based meditation program aimed at improving quality of life for metastatic lung cancer patients and their partners. It involves questionnaires, meditation sessions, and discussions about cancer-related topics to assess physical, psychological, and spiritual outcomes.

Group I: Phase 3: Couple-Based Mindfulness Disclosure Group Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participant completes 13 questionnaires before first mediation session, after last session, and again 3 months later. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, any symptoms they may be having, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. Partners complete 12 questionnaires about their health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. It should take about 45 minutes to complete these questionnaires. Participant and partner attend meditation class with a trained meditation instructor each week for 4 weeks. Each session will last about 60 minutes total. Meditation and discussion sessions videotaped.

Group II: Phase 3: Cancer-Related Discussion Program Group Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participant completes 13 questionnaires before first mediation session, after last session, and again 3 months later. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, any symptoms they may be having, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. Partners complete 12 questionnaires about their health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. It should take about 45 minutes to complete these questionnaires. Participant and partner take part in a discussion program, 1 discussion session each week for 4 weeks with a trained interventionist. These are one-on-one sessions. Issues discussed for couples coping with cancer. Each session will last about 60 minutes.

Group III: Phase 3: Attention Control (AC) Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participant completes 13 questionnaires at baseline and again 3 months later. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, any symptoms they may be having, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. Partners complete 12 questionnaires about their health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, their relationship, and their quality of life. It should take about 45 minutes to complete these questionnaires.

Group IV: Phase 2: Couple-Based Mindfulness Disclosure Group Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Phase 2: Participants complete 12 questionnaires before first meditation and discussion session. Questionnaires ask about participant's health, mood, level of fatigue, sleeping habits, relationship, and their quality of life. It should take about 45 minutes to complete these questionnaires. After completing the last session, about 4 weeks later, participants complete the same questionnaires again. Participants also complete a program review. Couples participate in 4 guided meditation sessions with a trained meditation instructor. Participants do deep breathing and visualization exercises. All meditation and discussion sessions videotaped. Participants continue daily meditation practice and some other short exercises at home.

Group V: Phase 1: Couple-Based Mindfulness Disclosure Group Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Phase 1: Couples participate in 2 guided meditation sessions. During the sessions, participants do deep breathing and visualization exercises then asked to review the exercises. Participants also asked for feedback about the instructions. Participants complete a written review about the program and a questionnaire about their general health and well-being. Each session will last about 60-90 minutes.

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX

Memorial Hermann Houston, TX

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Lead Sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI) Collaborator

American Cancer Society, Inc. Collaborator

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Survivors of Lung Cancer and Their Partners: A Systematic Review. [2023] Survivors of lung cancer and their partners often have complex unresolved physical, psychosocial, and behavioral needs that can negatively affect the survivors' and partners' well-being. This systematic review aimed to (1) examine the content and delivery of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and (2) summarize and synthesize the current evidence for effectiveness of MBIs targeting survivors of lung cancer and/or one selected partner (dyads).

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot Testing of a Brief Couple-Based Mind-Body Intervention for Patients With Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Partners. [2021] Given the generally incurable nature of metastatic lung cancer, patients and their spouses/partners are at risk for psychological and spiritual distress. To address this concern, we developed a couple-based mind-body (CBMB) intervention.

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A research protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial designed to examine the feasibility of a couple-based mind-body intervention for patients with metastatic lung cancer and their partners. [2022] Given the generally incurable nature of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC), patients and their romantic partners are at risk for existential/spiritual distress. Although a handful of dyadic psychosocial interventions for lung cancer patients and their caregivers exist, none of them target spiritual well-being. Informed by the mindfulness-based intervention literature and our pilot work in couples affected by lung cancer, we developed a brief couple-based mind-body (CBMB) intervention. The primary aim of this research protocol is to determine the feasibility of implementing the CBMB intervention versus an active control (AC) or wait list control (WLC) group in patients with mNSCLC and their partners using a randomized controlled trial design.

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Are Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Related to Psychological Distress and Communication in Couples Facing Lung Cancer? A Dyadic Approach. [2020] Lung cancer patients and their spouses report high rates of distress. Due to the increasing popularity of and evidence for mindfulness-based interventions in cancer, mindfulness and self-compassion have been identified as potentially helpful skills when coping with cancer. This dyadic study examined how mindfulness and self-compassion are related to psychological distress and communication about cancer in couples facing lung cancer. Using the actor-partner interdependence model, self-reported mindfulness, self-compassion, psychological distress and communication about cancer were analyzed in a cross-sectional sample of 88 couples facing lung cancer. Regarding psychological distress, no difference was found between patients and spouses. In both partners, own levels of mindfulness (B = -0.19, p = .002) and self-compassion (B = -0.45, p < .001) were negatively related to own distress levels. At a dyadic level, own self-compassion was less strongly associated with distress if the partner reported high self-compassion (B = 0.03, p = .049). Regarding communication about cancer, patients reported to communicate more openly with their partner than with spouses. However, after controlling for gender, this difference was no longer significant. In both partners, own self-compassion (B = 0.03, p = .010) was significantly associated with own communication while mindfulness was not. A trend showed that mindfulness of the partner was related to more open communication in the individual (B = 0.01, p = .080). These findings give a first indication that mindfulness and self-compassion skills may go beyond the individual and could impact couple functioning. Future research should examine whether couples facing (lung) cancer may benefit from programs in which mindfulness and self-compassion are cultivated.

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Mindfulness-Based Intervention as a Supportive Care Strategy for Patients with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Spouses: Results of a Three-Arm Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [2021] Although mindfulness-based interventions have been widely examined in patients with nonmetastatic cancer, the feasibility and efficacy of these types of programs are largely unknown for those with advanced disease. We pilot-tested a couple-based meditation (CBM) relative to a supportive-expressive (SE) and a usual care (UC) arm targeting psychospiritual distress in patients with metastatic lung cancer and their spousal caregivers.

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based stress reduction added to care as usual for lung cancer patients and/or their partners: A multicentre randomized controlled trial. [2022] Lung cancer patients report among the highest distress rates of all cancer patients. Partners report similar distress rates. The present study examined the effectiveness of additional mindfulness-based stress reduction (care as usual [CAU] + MBSR) versus solely CAU to reduce psychological distress in lung cancer patients and/or their partners.

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial comparing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with treatment as usual in reducing psychological distress in patients with lung cancer and their partners: the MILON study. [2021] Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and characterized by a poor prognosis. It has a major impact on the psychological wellbeing of patients and their partners. Recently, it has been shown that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms in cancer patients. The generalization of these results is limited since most participants were female patients with breast cancer. Moreover, only one study examined the effectiveness of MBSR in partners of cancer patients. Therefore, in the present trial we study the effectiveness of MBSR versus treatment as usual (TAU) in patients with lung cancer and their partners.