Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients
Background: Depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance are common problems that greatly affect quality of life for many myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients. App-based mindfulness meditation is a feasible nonpharmacologic approach for managing symptoms. However, previous research has not consi...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2020-06-01
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Series: | Integrative Cancer Therapies |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735420927780 |
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author | Megan E. Puzia MS Jennifer Huberty PhD Ryan Eckert MS Linda Larkey PhD Ruben Mesa MD |
author_facet | Megan E. Puzia MS Jennifer Huberty PhD Ryan Eckert MS Linda Larkey PhD Ruben Mesa MD |
author_sort | Megan E. Puzia MS |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Background: Depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance are common problems that greatly affect quality of life for many myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients. App-based mindfulness meditation is a feasible nonpharmacologic approach for managing symptoms. However, previous research has not considered how patients’ overall mental health may influence their responsiveness to these interventions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory, secondary analysis of the effects of a smartphone meditation app, Calm, on depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in MPN patients based on patients’ baseline levels of Global Mental Health (GMH). Methods: Participants (N = 80) were a subset of MPN patients from a larger feasibility study. Patients were enrolled into an intervention (use Calm for 10 minutes daily for 4 weeks) or educational control group. Results: In multilevel models, there were significant 3-way interactions between time, group, and baseline GMH for depression and anxiety symptoms, with participants in the meditation intervention who reported the poorest baseline GMH experiencing the greatest reduction in symptoms over time. For both intervention and control participants, poorer initial GMH was associated with increases in sleep disturbance symptoms over time. Conclusions: Mindfulness meditation apps, such as Calm, may be effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms in MPN patients, particularly for those experiencing mental health difficulties. Given the need for accessible tools to self-manage chronic cancer–related symptoms, especially strong negative emotions, these findings warrant larger efficacy studies to determine the effects of app-based meditation for alleviating depression and anxiety in cancer populations. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:31:55Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-d383d4327774478bb785e50a4d542dfb |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1534-7354 1552-695X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:31:55Z |
publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
publisher | SAGE Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | Integrative Cancer Therapies |
spelling | doaj.art-d383d4327774478bb785e50a4d542dfb2022-12-21T23:52:29ZengSAGE PublishingIntegrative Cancer Therapies1534-73541552-695X2020-06-011910.1177/1534735420927780Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm PatientsMegan E. Puzia MS0Jennifer Huberty PhD1Ryan Eckert MS2Linda Larkey PhD3Ruben Mesa MD4Behavioral Research and Analytics, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT, USAArizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USAUT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, San Antonio, TX, USAArizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USAUT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, San Antonio, TX, USABackground: Depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance are common problems that greatly affect quality of life for many myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients. App-based mindfulness meditation is a feasible nonpharmacologic approach for managing symptoms. However, previous research has not considered how patients’ overall mental health may influence their responsiveness to these interventions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory, secondary analysis of the effects of a smartphone meditation app, Calm, on depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in MPN patients based on patients’ baseline levels of Global Mental Health (GMH). Methods: Participants (N = 80) were a subset of MPN patients from a larger feasibility study. Patients were enrolled into an intervention (use Calm for 10 minutes daily for 4 weeks) or educational control group. Results: In multilevel models, there were significant 3-way interactions between time, group, and baseline GMH for depression and anxiety symptoms, with participants in the meditation intervention who reported the poorest baseline GMH experiencing the greatest reduction in symptoms over time. For both intervention and control participants, poorer initial GMH was associated with increases in sleep disturbance symptoms over time. Conclusions: Mindfulness meditation apps, such as Calm, may be effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms in MPN patients, particularly for those experiencing mental health difficulties. Given the need for accessible tools to self-manage chronic cancer–related symptoms, especially strong negative emotions, these findings warrant larger efficacy studies to determine the effects of app-based meditation for alleviating depression and anxiety in cancer populations.https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735420927780 |
spellingShingle | Megan E. Puzia MS Jennifer Huberty PhD Ryan Eckert MS Linda Larkey PhD Ruben Mesa MD Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients Integrative Cancer Therapies |
title | Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients |
title_full | Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients |
title_fullStr | Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients |
title_full_unstemmed | Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients |
title_short | Associations Between Global Mental Health and Response to an App-Based Meditation Intervention in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients |
title_sort | associations between global mental health and response to an app based meditation intervention in myeloproliferative neoplasm patients |
url | https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735420927780 |
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