A randomized control trial of meditation compared to music listening to improve cognitive function for breast cancer survivors: Feasibility and acceptability


Author: Ashley M Henneghan1, Heather Becker2, Michelle L Harrison3, Kelly Inselmann4, Brandon Fico3, Helen Schafer5, Elizabeth King6, Debra Patt7, Shelli Kesler8

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, 1710 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA; The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Oncology, 1601 Trinity St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA. Electronic address: ahenneghan@utexas.edu.

<sup>2</sup> The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, 1710 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.

<sup>3</sup> The University of Texas at Austin, Kinesiology and Health Education, 2109 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.

<sup>4</sup> Cancer Rehab and Integrative Medicine, 4130 Spicewood Springs Rd. Ste. 100, Austin, TX, 78759, USA.

<sup>5</sup> The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School, 1501 Red River Street St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.

<sup>6</sup> Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.

<sup>7</sup> Texas Oncology, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, 1501 Red River Street St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.

<sup>8</sup> The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, 1710 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA; The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Diagnostic Medicine, 1601 Trinity St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract
Date published: 2020 Sep 11
Other:
 Volume ID: 41   ,  Pages: 101228   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101228.   ,  Word Count: 222  
    Background:

and Purpose: Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) experience persistent cognitive and psychological changes associated with their cancer and/or treatment and that have limited treatment options. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and effects of a Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) intervention on cognitive and psychological symptoms compared to an attention control condition, classical music listening (ML), in BCS.



Materials and methods:

A randomized control trial design was used. Participants completed eight-week interventions. Cognitive function and psychological symptoms were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Mixed analysis of variance models were examined for all cognitive and psychological outcomes.



Results:

27 BCS completed the study. Intervention adherence was 88%. Both groups improved in perceived cognitive impairments, cognition related quality of life, verbal memory, and verbal fluency (p's < 0.01). There were no significant group by time effects for cognitive and psychological outcomes, except stress. The ML group reported lower stress at time 2 (p < 0.05).



Conclusion:

KK and ML are feasible, acceptable, and cost-effective interventions that may be beneficial for survivors' cognition and psychological symptoms. Both interventions were easy to learn, low cost, and required just 12 min/day. Meditation or music listening could offer providers evidence-based suggestions to BCS experiencing cognitive symptoms.



Clinical trials registration number:

NCT03696056.



Keywords: Breast cancer survivors; Cognitive functioning; Kirtan kriya; Meditation; Music listening; Stress.



PMID: 32949954 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101228