While a 2018 Dutch study published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology (Compton et al ) “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Psychological Distress in Patients With Cancer” show results from a trial.

This trial involved 245 breast patients exhibiting with “psychological distress” defined by a score ≥ 11 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

It contrasted eMBCT (computer based learning), “face-to-face MBCT” and “treatment as usual”. The “eMBCT group” achieved a HADS reduction from 17.24 to 11.87, almost eliminating “psychological distress” in comparison with a “treatment as usual” group which produced a small change in HADS score from 17.04 at baseline to 16.37. eMBCT proved slightly more effective than face to face MBCT.

The researchers commented that “Compared with treatment as usual, MBCT and eMBCT were similarly effective in reducing psychological distress in a sample of distressed heterogeneous patients with cancer.”