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Integrative Cancer Therapies 2023We examined the effects of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer and examined the moderating effects of participant... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
We examined the effects of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer and examined the moderating effects of participant characteristics, research methodologies, and features of interventions.
METHODS
We systematically searched 12 databases through November 2022 without date restrictions using the following search terms: (mindful* or meditation) AND (cancer OR neoplasm) AND (depress*). Studies included were primary studies evaluating MBIs in women with breast cancer who also had depression. Studies were included if they used a control group and were written in English. We used a random-effects model to compute effect sizes (ESs) using Hedges' g, forest plot, and Q and statistics as measure of heterogeneity. We also requested moderator analyses.
RESULTS
We found 19 studies with 2139 participants (49.4 ± 8.3 years old) that met inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis and systematic review. Overall, women in MBI groups demonstrated significantly lower levels of depression ( = 0.48, 95% CI:0.159, 0.792, < .001) compared to women in control groups. Regarding moderators, providing MBIs with a home assignment component showed a significantly greater effect on decreasing depressive symptoms ( = 1.75) compared to MBIs without a home assignment component ( = 0.20). When researchers used concealed allocation technique, the interventions demonstrated lower effects on depression than when concealed allocation ( = 0.11vs = 1.33, ≤ .001) was not reported. Additionally, when researchers reported high rates of sample attrition, they found a lower effect size on depression (β = -.019, = 3.97, = .046) indicating that attrition moderates the effect.
CONCLUSION
MBIs are moderately effective interventions to reduce depressive symptoms among women with breast cancer. Clinicians might consider encouraging MBIs as adjunct/alternative treatments for women with breast cancer to manage symptoms of depression. Interventions that incorporat home assignments for practicing mindfulness are likely to have a greater effect on reducing depressive symptoms. Additionally, methods including concealed allocation and attrition rate were moderators of the effects of MBIs on depression in women with breast cancer.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Depression; Meditation; Mindfulness; Southern African People
PubMed: 38140816
DOI: 10.1177/15347354231220617 -
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and... Dec 2023Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal stress during pregnancy is an established risk factor for PTB. We aimed to review... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal stress during pregnancy is an established risk factor for PTB. We aimed to review the effects of stress-reducing interventions during pregnancy on PTB. Studies reporting on stress-reducing interventions during pregnancy and PTB rates in general low-risk obstetric populations were included. PTB rates, low birth weight (LBW) rates, mean gestational age and birth weight, maternal anxiety and stress, and adverse perinatal outcomes were investigated. Data were extracted using a standardized extraction form, pooled effect sizes were calculated with the random effects model. Ten studies with a total of 4.816 women were included. The interventions included Pilates, yoga, a multidisciplinary stress reduction program, combination therapy (combining mindfulness, yoga, music, baby bonding, and education), and hypnosis. The incidence of PTB was significantly lower in the intervention group (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.35 - 0.71). The overall quality of the included studies was low, and the risk of bias was high. In conclusion, this study provides evidence supporting the potential efficacy of stress-reducing interventions in reducing the incidence of PTB in low-risk women. We propose a RCT of high quality to determine the effectiveness of stress-reducing interventions in reducing PTB risk.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Female; Humans; Premature Birth; Risk Factors; Gestational Age
PubMed: 38064297
DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2023.2281238 -
Complementary Therapies in Clinical... Feb 2024Breast, lung and colorectal cancers are 3 of the top 4 most common cancers worldwide. Their treatment with chemotherapy often results in adverse effects on quality of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Breast, lung and colorectal cancers are 3 of the top 4 most common cancers worldwide. Their treatment with chemotherapy often results in adverse effects on quality of life, fatigue and functional exercise capacity amongst patients. Mind-body therapies, including yoga, Tai chi and Qigong, are commonly used as complementary and alternative therapies in cancer. This meta-analysis evaluates the effects of yoga, Tai chi and Qigong in alleviating the adverse effects of chemotherapy.
METHODS
Various databases were systematically interrogated using specific search terms, returning 1901 manuscripts. Removal of duplicates, irrelevant studies, those lacking available data and applying inclusion/exclusion criteria reduced this number to 9 manuscripts for inclusion in the final meta-analyses. Mean differences were calculated to determine pooled effect sizes using RStudio.
RESULTS
This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to demonstrate significant improvements in fatigue for colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with a reduction of -1.40 (95 % CI: -2.24 to -0.56; p = 0.001) observed in mind-body therapy intervention groups.
CONCLUSION
Yoga, Tai chi and Qigong could all be implemented alongside adjuvant therapies to alleviate the adverse effects on colorectal cancer patient fatigue during chemotherapy treatment.
REVIEW REGISTRATION
This systematic review and meta-analysis is registered on InPlasy: registration number INPLASY202390035; doi: https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.9.0035.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Mind-Body Therapies; Yoga; Meditation; Tai Ji; Qigong; Fatigue; Colorectal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38029633
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101811 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023Conventional Buddhist texts illustrate meditation as a condition of relaxed alertness that must fend against extreme hypoarousal (sleep, drowsiness) and extreme...
Conventional Buddhist texts illustrate meditation as a condition of relaxed alertness that must fend against extreme hypoarousal (sleep, drowsiness) and extreme hyperarousal (restlessness). Theoretical, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging investigations of meditation have highlighted the relaxing effects and hypoarousing without emphasizing the alertness-promoting effects. Here we performed a systematic review supported by an activation-likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis in an effort to counterbalance the surfeit of scholarship emphasizing the hypoarousing and relaxing effects of different forms of Buddhist meditation. Specifically, the current systematic review-cum-meta-analytical review seeks to highlight more support for meditation's wake-promoting effects by drawing from neuroimaging research during wakefulness and meditation. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 fMRI studies, we aim to highlight support for Buddhist meditation's wake-promoting or arousing effects by identifying brain regions associated with alertness during meditation. The most significant peaks were localized medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and precuneus. We failed to determine areas ostensibly common to alertness-related meditation such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), superior parietal lobule, basal ganglia, thalamus, most likely due to the relatively fewer fMRI investigations that used wakefulness-promoting meditation techniques. Also, we argue that forthcoming research on meditation, related to alertness or wakefulness, continues to adopt a multi-modal method to investigate the correlation between actual behaviors and neural networks connected to Buddhist meditation. Moreover, we recommend the implementation of fMRI paradigms on Buddhist meditation with clinically diagnosed participants to complement recent trends in psychotherapy such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
PubMed: 38022985
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136983 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023Low back pain is one of the most prevalent public health problems in the world, generating psychosocial impacts on quality of life and a high demand for medical care....
INTRODUCTION
Low back pain is one of the most prevalent public health problems in the world, generating psychosocial impacts on quality of life and a high demand for medical care. Self-compassion may be beneficial for low back pain control, however, studies in the area are scarce. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate the benefits of self-compassion-related interventions on low back pain and mental health in adults.
METHODS
The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO and the method was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted using the keywords "self-compassion" and "low back pain" in Portuguese, English, and Spanish in the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, PePSIC, PsycInfo, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Additional searches were also conducted through the references of the included studies.
RESULTS
Thirty-three articles were identified and analyzed by two independent reviewers using Rayyan. Four of these studies were included. RoB 2 was used to assess the risk of bias of each study. The main findings suggest that self-compassion-related interventions demonstrate benefits in the treatment of low back pain, as well as reduction in pain intensity, psychological stress, and improvement of pain acceptance.
DISCUSSION
However, these positive data must be analyzed carefully, as only two studies presented a low risk of bias. Despite growing interest in this field, more research self-compassion-related interventions for low back pain are suggested, since biopsychosocial aspects associated with low back pain can impact the outcome of treatment.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier (CRD42022376341).
PubMed: 38022933
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1270287 -
Psychoneuroendocrinology Jan 2024Stress has a damaging impact on our mental and physical health, and as a result, there is an on-going demand for effective stress management interventions. However,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Stress has a damaging impact on our mental and physical health, and as a result, there is an on-going demand for effective stress management interventions. However, there are no reviews or meta-analyses synthesising the evidence base of randomised controlled trials testing the effectiveness of psychological interventions on changing cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in non-patient groups. Therefore, the primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to address this gap. Six databases (Medline, PsychInfo, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and Web of Science) were searched (1171 studies identified) with 58 studies (combined N = 3508) included in the meta-analysis. The interventions were coded into one of four categories; mind body therapies, mindfulness, relaxation or talking therapies. A random effects meta-analysis on cortisol as measured in blood, saliva or hair found that stress management interventions outperformed pooled control conditions with a medium positive effect size (g = 0.282). The studies that utilised cortisol awakening measures (g = 0.644) revealed larger effects of stress management interventions than those that measured diurnal cortisol (g = 0.255). Mindfulness and meditation (g = 0. 345) and relaxation (g = 0. 347) interventions were most effective at changing cortisol levels, while mind body therapies (g = 0. 129) and talking therapies (g = 0.107) were shown to have smaller and non-significant effect sizes. Additionally, studies that utilised an active control group (g = 0. 477) over passive control group (g = 0.129) were found to have stronger effects. Length of the intervention, study quality, risk of bias, age and gender did not influence the effectiveness of interventions and there was no evidence of publication bias. Overall, the current findings confirm that stress management interventions can positively influence cortisol levels. Future research should investigate the longer term implications for health and health outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Hydrocortisone; Meditation; Mindfulness
PubMed: 37879237
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106415 -
Health Science Reports Oct 2023Qigong and Tai Chi (QTC) are mind-body exercises involving a sequence of graceful movements, which promote self-healing, meditation, and self-cultivation. There is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Qigong and Tai Chi (QTC) are mind-body exercises involving a sequence of graceful movements, which promote self-healing, meditation, and self-cultivation. There is growing evidence that Qigong and/or Tai Chi therapy may improve the physical and psychological health among adults with multiple health conditions including joint movement. This systematic review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the type and effectiveness of QTC therapies used in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.
METHODS
This systematic review followed the AMSTAR-2 guideline, and it was reported based on guidelines in the PRISMA checklist. The review involved a systematic search of nine electronic databases. After deduplication and screening of the literature retrieved from the search, only one article was included based on the review's inclusion criteria. Data was extracted from this article and synthesized.
RESULTS
The only included article was on a non-randomized control trial which investigated the role of Tai Chi Qigong (a form of Qigong) therapy in improving joint mobility and alleviating trismus among 52 survivors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had TMJ disorders. The study reported, at different time intervals (at pretest; at mid-intervention; at posttest; and at follow-up posttest), that no significant difference ( > 0.05) was observed concerning mouth opening capacity between the intervention group and the control group. However, over time, less severe deterioration in mouth-opening was noted among the participants in the intervention group ( = 0.181) as compared to the control group ( < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
The role of QTC therapies in improving joint mobility and alleviating trismus is not yet fully understood, but it seems promising. The available evidence is inadequate to categorically conclude on the efficacy of these therapies. Further studies will be required to fully assess the effectiveness of QTC therapies in the management of TMJ dysfunction.
PubMed: 37877129
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1639 -
Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease 2023Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions are growing in popularity as possible treatments for long COVID symptoms. However, comprehensive analysis of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions are growing in popularity as possible treatments for long COVID symptoms. However, comprehensive analysis of current evidence in this setting is still lacking.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to review existing published studies on the use of CAM interventions for patients experiencing long COVID through a systematic review.
DESIGN
Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
METHODS
A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed in multiple databases and clinical trial registries from September 2019 to January 2023. RCTs evaluating efficacy and safety of CAM for long COVID were included. Methodological quality of each included trial was appraised with the Cochrane 'risk of bias' tool. A qualitative analysis was conducted due to heterogeneity of included studies.
RESULTS
A total of 14 RCTs with 1195 participants were included in this review. Study findings demonstrated that CAM interventions could benefit patients with long COVID, especially those suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders, olfactory dysfunction, cognitive impairment, fatigue, breathlessness, and mild-to-moderate lung fibrosis. The main interventions reported were self-administered transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, neuro-meditation, dietary supplements, olfactory training, aromatherapy, inspiratory muscle training, concurrent training, and an online breathing and well-being program.
CONCLUSION
CAM interventions may be effective, safe, and acceptable to patients with symptoms of long COVID. However, the findings from this systematic review should be interpreted with caution due to various methodological limitations. More rigorous trials focused on CAM for long COVID are warranted in the future.
PubMed: 37841213
DOI: 10.1177/20406223231204727 -
Avicenna Journal of Medicine Jul 2023Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition that can significantly impact the quality of life and increase mortality risk. Yoga is a... (Review)
Review
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition that can significantly impact the quality of life and increase mortality risk. Yoga is a mind-body therapy that has been studied as a potential complementary treatment for CHF. However, the effectiveness of yoga in improving outcomes in patients with CHF remains uncertain. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of yoga on outcomes in patients with CHF. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and IndMED databases from inception to March 2023. The outcomes of interest were left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac biomarkers, exercise capacity, quality of life, and cardiac function. We identified 11 RCTs that met our inclusion criteria, involving a total of 552 participants. The meta-analysis showed that yoga was associated with significant improvements in peak VO (mean difference [MD]= 3.29; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.64 to 4.94; I = 0%), exercise capacity (MD=101.54; 95% CI: 6.24 to 196.83; I = 96%), quality of life (MD = -19.99; 95% CI: -25.76 to -14.22; = 43%), NT-proBNP (MD = -288.78; 95% CI: -492.20 to -85.37; = 94%), and 6-minute walk test (MD = 101.54; 95% CI: 6.24-196.83; = 96%), but not in the left ventricular ejection fraction (MD = 4.28; 95% CI: -1.14 to 9.70; = 93%). Subgroup analysis suggested that the effect of yoga on the quality of life is more pronounced in patients with the "New York Heart Association" (NYHA) class I and II CHF patients and in those who practiced yoga for longer durations. No serious adverse events related to yoga were reported. Most of the included studies were of "low" quality. Current evidence suggests that yoga may be an effective complementary and integrative therapy for improving peak VO exercise capacity, NT-proBNP, and quality of life in patients with CHF. However, the low-quality evidence does not render us to conclude anything beyond doubt or draw any firm clinical recommendation. Future high-quality studies are needed to explore the optimal duration and frequency of yoga practice and its effects on long-term outcomes in this population.
PubMed: 37799183
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1774738 -
Systematic Reviews Sep 2023Qualitative research on women's experiences participating in yoga after a cancer diagnosis is growing; systematic synthesis and integration of results are necessary to...
BACKGROUND
Qualitative research on women's experiences participating in yoga after a cancer diagnosis is growing; systematic synthesis and integration of results are necessary to facilitate the transfer and implementation of knowledge among researchers and end-users. Thus, the purpose of this meta-synthesis was to: (1) integrate findings from qualitative studies, (2) compare and contrast findings to elucidate patterns or contradictions in conclusions, and (3) develop an overarching interpretation of women's experiences participating in yoga after a cancer diagnosis.
METHODS
Using meta-study methodology, six electronic databases were searched using a sensitive search strategy in November 2020, a supplemental scan of reference lists was conducted in August 2021, and the database search was replicated in October 2021. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full-texts to determine eligibility.
RESULTS
The searches yielded 6804 citations after de-duplication. Data from 24 articles meeting the eligibility criteria were extracted, and the results, methods, and theoretical approach(es) were analyzed. The analysis revealed that there was a predominant focus on two focal points in the primary articles: (1) women's well-being and quality of life (QoL; part I) and (2) intervention preferences (part II). Five overarching categories emerged related to well-being and QoL: (1) yoga can support improvements in multiple dimensions of QoL in women diagnosed with cancer, (2) women diagnosed with cancer experience an interaction between QoL dimensions, (3) elements of yoga that support improvements in QoL dimensions, (4) breathwork and meditation are integral elements of yoga, and (5) yoga practice may support lifestyle behavior change. The articles reviewed had notable limitations related to: (1) reporting about instructor(s), content of the intervention, and environmental characteristics of the setting, (2) identifying and incorporating optimal features in the intervention design, (3) incorporating theory and real-world considerations into the study procedures, and (4) including positive and negative conceptualizations of QoL as an interconnected and multidimensional concept.
CONCLUSION
Moving forward, it remains critical to identify the ideal structure and content of yoga programs for promoting well-being and QoL among women diagnosed with cancer, as well as to explore barriers and facilitators to sustainable program implementation.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42021229253.
Topics: Female; Humans; Life Style; Meditation; Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Yoga
PubMed: 37752520
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02350-x