An investigation of the effect of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on demoralization, body image, and sexual function in Iranian women with breast cancer

Abstract Background Breast cancer is an extremely unpleasant and unbearable experience that can have a profound impact on a person's life. Compared to other types of cancer, breast cancer has a more severe psychological impact on women. Objective Women with breast cancer were assessed for the effectiveness of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on demoralization, body image, and sexual function. Method A sample of 30 women with breast cancer was chosen for the study. The participants were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Participants in the intervention group received Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy, while the control group received self-help treatment (through an educational book). A demographic questionnaire, Demoralization Scale (DS-II), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics criteria such as frequency, mean, and standard deviation, repeated measures ANOVA, and the Bonferroni test were used to analyze the data. The maximum alpha error level was considered 0.05 to test the hypotheses (P ≥ 0/05). Results The results showed the effectiveness of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on demoralization, body image, and sexual function (p < 0.05). Concerning demoralization in the intervention group, the pre-test mean was 16.73 ± 3.33, and it reduced to 11.93 ± 1.49 in the post-test. The body image mean score showed a decreasing trend in the intervention group, from 12.47 ± 1.88 in the pre-test to 8.80 ± 3.21 in the post-test. The mean score for sexual function showed an increasing trend, increasing from 18.06 ± 2.29 in the pre-test to 23.07 ± 0.91 in the post-test. The results of the Bonferroni test indicated a significant decrease in the mean score of demoralization and body image and an increase in sexual function in post-test and follow-up (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean score of the post-test compared to the pre-test and follow-up in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Women with breast cancer can significantly benefit from mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy, particularly concerning symptoms such as low mood, body image, and sexual function. Therefore, it is recommended to implement this treatment along with other treatment services. Trial registration: (IRCT20160103025817N6). 2022-04-06