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The results of a small comparative study published online in the journal BMJ Support and Hospice show that 20 minutes of mindful breathing (focusing a person’s attention on breathing) can quickly reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of cancer pain and relieve related anxiety.
Researchers say mindful breathing complements traditional pain relief methods and expands the options for cancer patients.
Researchers say an estimated 30-40% of cancer patients globally suffer from moderate to severe pain due to tumor compression or invasion of surrounding tissues, neuropathological mechanisms, and side effects of treatment.
They added that despite advances in pain management and the evolving scope of drugs and nerve blockages, insufficient pain control remains a major challenge for clinicians.
Researchers say the value of mindfulness-based interventions is increasingly recognized in a range of complementary therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, massage, acupuncture and exercise.
But so far, research on the effects of mindfulness in alleviating pain has focused on projects that last several weeks or as little as 5 to 10 minutes, or on people who do not have cancer.
Given previously published research showing that more than 10 minutes can effectively relieve pain, the researchers wanted to know whether a single mindful breath lasting 20 minutes could have the same effect in cancer patients.
To find out, they randomly assigned 40 hospitalized patients with different types of cancer and pain scores of 4 or higher (out of 10, indicating moderate to severe pain)(a total of 259 patients) to one of two groups.
One group (21 people) underwent a mindfulness breathing course under the guidance of a doctor trained in mindfulness techniques. The course includes a brief explanation of the concept and practice of mindfulness, followed by a 20-minute breathing of mindfulness.
The course consists of four steps, each lasting five minutes: identifying inhaling and exhaling; following the length of the entire breath; bringing thoughts back to the body; and relaxing the body, starting from the head to the feet.
Another group (19 people) received a 20-minute supportive listening session led by a doctor, during which they were asked about their disease experiences using semi-structured questions.
Before and after each intervention, each patient’s pain intensity and unpleasantness were measured using a validated numerical rating scale (0-10) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which consists of 14 items and is scored on a 4-point scale to assess their emotions.
Retrieves background information and relevant clinical data from hospital medical records, such as cancer type and stage and use of analgesics, including morphine.
The average age of the patients is 63 years old, and although there are multiple cancer types among them, one-third have bowel cancer; 29 have stage III or IV disease. Nearly two-thirds (65%) use opioids to manage pain.
The results showed that pain intensity and pain discomfort in the mindful breathing group were greater (and significant) reduced than in the control group. Their HADS scores also dropped significantly.
The researchers acknowledged that the study was relatively small and was conducted at only one medical center. The nature of pain intensity/unpleasantness and psychological outcomes were also assessed subjectively.
But they suggest that cancer patients often face practical limitations, so short mindfulness interventions that can quickly reduce pain and complement traditional pharmacological methods are worth exploring.
“In addition, the 100% response rate and the absence of adverse events emphasize the feasibility and safety of a 20-minute mindful breathing intervention. This intervention can be learned and applied quickly and produces beneficial results,”they added.
“The results suggest that this brief intervention is expected to reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of pain and reduce anxiety in cancer patients. Although further research is needed to consolidate these findings, this study provides valuable insights into feasible and easy-to-use non-pharmacological therapies.
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Original text:https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-minutes-mindful-rapidly-intensity-cancer.html
More information: Mindful breathing for cancer pain: efficacy of a single 20-minute session – a randomised controlled study, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care (2024). DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2023-004762
More information: Mindful breathing for cancer pain: The efficacy of a single 20-minute course-A randomized controlled study, BMJ Support and Hospice Care (2024). DOI：10.1136/spcare-2023-004762
Journal information: BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
Journal Information: BMJ Support and Hospice Care
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