Effect of cognitive behavior therapy integrated with mindfulness on perceived pain and pain self-efficacy in patients with breast cancer

Context: Cancer pain in a complicated situation for patients with breast cancer. Researchers suggested to use complementary and alternative method in order to reduction pain and side effects in these patients.

Aims: This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness integrated with cognitive behavioral therapy (MiCBT) on perceived pain and pain self-efficacy in patients with breast cancer.

Settings and Design: In this clinical trial study, a semi-experimental method was used. Patients with breast cancer were recurred from cancer clinic of a hospital of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Material and Methods: Twenty-four patients with breast cancer selected through purposive sampling method and randomly assigned with permutation blocks in two groups of intervention (n = 12) and control (n = 12). The groups were assessed by demographic questionnaire, Perceived Pain Scale, and Pain Self-efficacy Scale before, immediate, and 1 month after the intervention. Participants in the interventional group received MiCBT for 8 weeks.

Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and multivariate analysis of covariance.

Results: The results showed that the interventional group had a significant decrease in perceived pain (P > 0.05). The pain self-efficacy of patients significantly increased in comparison to the control group in posttest and follow-up stage (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that using integrated therapy with mindfulness has been effective in reducing pain and enhancing pain self-efficacy in breast cancer patients. Therefore, it can be an adequate complementary therapy for patients with breast cancer.