Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Spanish Oncology Patients: The Bartley Protocol

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyse whether MBCT will reduce the general level of psychopathology, increase the quality of life, and increase meta-knowledge about their emotional state in Spanish participants with cancer. Method: The sample consisted of n = 88 Spanish oncology patients. This was a non-randomized, two-group (experimental vs waiting list) trial conducted in a naturalistic setting. We evaluated psychological distress (BSI-18), quality of life (FACT-G), and meta-knowledge of emotions (TMMS-24). Results: The participants who received the MBCT treatment improved more than the control group in distress (F= 6.79; p = .01, BSI-18), depression (F= 8.38; p = .005 ), quality of life -physical health (F = 5.56; p = .02), emotional state (F = 7.06; p= .01), and functional capacity (F = 7.98; p = .006), as well as meta-knowledge about their emotional state (F = 35.4; p = .01), and its subscales of perception, (F = 8.95; p = .004), comprehension, (F= 16.06; p = .01), and repair (F = 15.67; p = .01). Conclusions: The Bartley MBCT program was feasible and showed promise in improving general psychopathology (depression), improving patients’ quality of life, and increasing meta-knowledge about their emotional state.

Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio es analizar el papel de la MBCT en la reducción de la psicopatología, la mejora de la calidad de vida y del metaconocimiento del estado emocional en participantes españoles oncológicos. Método: la muestra consta de n = 88 pacientes oncológicos españoles. Este es un ensayo no aleatorio de dos grupos (experimental versus lista de espera) realizado en un entorno hospitalario. Se evaluaron distrés psicológico (BSI-18), calidad de vida (FACTG) y metaconocimiento de las emociones (TMMS). Resultados: los participantes con tratamiento MBCT mejoraron más que el grupo control en distrés (F= 6.79; p = .01), depresión (F= 8.38; p = .005), en la calidad de vida asociada a salud física (F = 5.56; p = .02), al estado emocional (F = 7.06; p= .01) y a la capacidad funcional personal (F = 7.98; p = .006), y en metaconocimiento de las emociones (F = 35.4; p = .01), y sus subescalas percepción (F = 8.95; p = .004), comprensión, (F= 16.06; p = .01) y reparación (F = 15.67; p = .01). Conclusiones: la MBCT mostró resultados prometedores para mejorar la psicopatología general, la calidad de vida y el metaconocimiento sobre el estado emocional.