Cited by 105Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyCancer survivorship and careMindfulness and Compassion Interventions

A Systematic Review of Spiritually Based Interventions and Psychoneuroimmunological Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivorship

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Hulett, Jennifer M., Armer, Jane M.·2016·Integrative Cancer Therapies

Abstract

Objective This is a review of spiritually based interventions (eg, mindfulness-based stress reduction) that utilized psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) outcome measures in breast cancer survivors. Specifically, this review sought to examine the evidence regarding relationships between spiritually based interventions, psychosocial-spiritual outcomes, and biomarker outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Methods A systematic search of 9 online databases was conducted for articles of original research, peer-reviewed, randomized and nonrandomized control trials from 2005-2015. Data were extracted in order to answer selected questions regarding relationships between psychosocial-spiritual and physiological measures utilized in spiritually based interventions. Implications for future spiritually based interventions in breast cancer survivorship are discussed. Results Twenty-two articles were reviewed. Cortisol was the most common PNI biomarker outcome studied. Compared with control groups, intervention groups demonstrated positive mental health outcomes and improved or stable neuroendocrine-immune profiles, although limitations exist. Design methods have improved with regard to increased use of comparison groups compared with previous reviews. There are few spiritually based interventions that specifically measure religious or spiritual constructs. Similarly, there are few existing studies that utilize standardized religious or spiritual measures with PNI outcome measures. Findings suggest that a body of knowledge now exists in support of interventions with mindfulness-breathing-stretching components; furthermore, these interventions appear to offer potential improvement or stabilization of neuroendocrine-immune activity in breast cancer survivors compared to control groups. Conclusion From a PNI perspective, future spiritually based interventions should include standardized measures of religiousness and spirituality in order to understand relationships between and among religiousness, spirituality, and neuroendocrine-immune outcomes. Future research should now focus on determining the minimum dose and duration needed to improve or stabilize neuroendocrine-immune function, as well as diverse setting needs, including home-based practice for survivors who are too ill to travel to group sessions or lack economic resources.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1534735416636222

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  • A systematic review showed that mindfulness intervention can improve individual's mental health and lead to positive biomarker outcomes such as decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).

    “A systematic review showed that mindfulness intervention can improve individual’s mental health and lead to positive biomarker outcomes such as decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (55).”

    From Mindfulness-based online intervention on mental health among undergraduate nursing students during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Beijing, China: A randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as [55]

    The Results and Discussion tables report improved mental-health outcomes and decreased IL-6 with mindfulness-based stress reduction in breast cancer survivors. They attribute stable or decreased TNF-α to yoga, not mindfulness, so the TNF-α part of the claim is unsupported. The review does not establish these outcomes for individuals generally. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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  • The positive effect of mindfulness intervention on anxiety and stress has its biological basis.

    “In this case, the positive effect of mindfulness intervention on anxiety and stress has its biological basis.”

    From Mindfulness-based online intervention on mental health among undergraduate nursing students during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Beijing, China: A randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as [55]

    The Results and Discussion report lower stress and anxiety after mindfulness-based stress reduction, alongside a trend in awakening cortisol levels. But the cortisol finding and the association between stress and cortisol were not statistically significant, so the review does not establish a biological basis for the psychological effects. The evidence is also drawn from cancer patients rather than mindfulness interventions generally. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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2 of the 121 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [1]Battaglini C Dennehy C Groff D Kirk D Anton P. Complementary therapies in the management of cancer treatment-related symptoms: the individualized prescriptive exercise intervention approach. Med Sportiva. 2006; 10(2): 49- 57.
  2. [88]Altschuler A Rosenbaum E Gordon P Canales S Avins AL. Audio recordings of mindfulness-based stress reduction training to improve cancer patients’ mood and quality of life—a pilot feasibility study. Support Care Cancer. 2012; 20: 1291- 1297. 21688161

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Authors
Hulett, J. M., & Armer, J. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Utah (US)
  • University of Missouri (US)
Corresponding author
Hulett, Jennifer M.
Venue
Integrative Cancer Therapies
Published
2016-07-26
Volume
15
Issue
4
Pages
405-423
ISSN
  • 1534-7354 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-695X
OpenAlex
W2346863221
Cited by
105
References
121
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7
FWCI
1.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Integrative Cancer Therapies (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Missouri
  • University of Utah
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Nursing Research (T32NR013456)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Keywords
breast cancer survivorship, psychoneuroimmunology, mindfulness-based stress reduction, cortisol, home-based intervention
MeSH terms
Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Psychoneuroimmunology, Quality of Life, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Survivors, Mind-Body Therapies, Spirituality

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