A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for insomnia secondary to cervical cancer: Sleep effects.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction on objective and subjective sleep parameters and hypnotic medication use of patients with insomnia secondary to cervical cancer.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial enrolled insomnia patient who were caused or worsened by cervical cancer. Seventy patients with insomnia caused or aggravated by cervical cancer were at random divided into either a usual care group or an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction group. Subjective sleep parameters, objective sleep parameters and hypnotic medication consumption were assessed at baseline, after the program, 6- and 12-month after finishing the interventions.

Results: The results showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction had a positive effect on subjective sleep parameters (Total wake time: ∆ = 45.32, P < 0.05; Sleep efficacy: ∆ = 6.87, P < 0.05; Total sleep time: ∆ = 22.22, P < 0.01). Compared with control group, polysomnography data in mindfulness-based stress reduction group were not improved significantly. There were no associations between subjective sleep parameters and objective sleep parameters.

Conclusion: Mindfulness-based stress reduction had a definite impact on patients with insomnia that was secondary to cervical cancer just after the intervention, but no long-term influences.

Trial Registration: ChiCTR1800018571; 9/25/2018; retrospectively registered.