Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32061834›Full record

Trial reportJournal of pain and symptom management2020

Online Couple-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients With Primary or Metastatic Brain Tumors and Their Partners: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Kathrin Milbury, Shiao-Pei Weathers, Sania Durrani, Yisheng Li, Meagan Whisenant, Jing Li, Bora Lim, Jeffrey S Weinberg, Shelli R Kesler, Lorenzo Cohen and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of pain and symptom management, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

30 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Mindfulness-based interventions for addressing sexual function after cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Effect of applying digital health in palliative care for patients with advanced cancer: a meta-analysis and systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Pooled it
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  6. Benefits of supportive strategies for carers of people with high-grade glioma: a systematic review : Strategies for addressing the needs of high-grade glioma carers.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022
    Pooled it
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  9. Effects of family-centered positive psychological intervention on psychological health and quality of life in patients with breast cancer and their caregivers.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Trial
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  12. [Mechanisms and intervention strategies by which neuropsychological stress promotes central nervous system tumor recurrence through bloodZhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · 2026
    Review
  13. Article
  14. Coping with primary brain tumors together: a scoping review of dyadic psychosocial interventions.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  15. Review
  16. Article
  17. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Kathrin MilburyDepartment of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. Electronic address: kmilbury@mdanderson.org.
Shiao-Pei WeathersDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Sania DurraniDepartment of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Yisheng LiDepartment of Biostatistics, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Meagan WhisenantDepartment of Symptom Research, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Jing LiDepartment of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Bora LimDepartment of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Jeffrey S WeinbergDepartment of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Shelli R KeslerDepartment of Oncology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
Lorenzo CohenDepartment of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Eduardo BrueraDepartment of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

Funding

Tumor Evolution and Metastasis ProgramP30CA016672 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI Fabien Delerue · 1985 to 2026
$290.8M
Couple-Based Mind-Body Program for Lung Cancer Patients and their PartnersK01AT007559 · NCCIH · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI MILBURY, KATHRIN · 2013 to 2017
$652k
NCCIH NIH HHS K01 AT007559
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesAlthough patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors and their partners are at risk of experiencing high symptom burden, they are often excluded from psychosocial intervention studies. Thus, we sought to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a couple-based meditation (CBM) program targeting symptom and well-being outcomes.

methodsCouples completed baseline measures assessing symptom and well-being outcomes and were randomized to the CBM or a usual care control group. Couples in the CBM groups attended four weekly (60 minutes each) therapist-led sessions that were delivered via FaceTime (Apple Inc, Cupertino, CA). The CBM program focused on cultivating mindfulness, compassion, gratitude and purpose, and integrated emotional disclosure exercises. Both groups were reassessed six and 12 weeks after baseline.

resultsWe approached 60 eligible dyads, of which 37 (62%) consented, 35 (95%) were randomized, and 22 (63%) completed all assessments. Couples in the CBM group attended a mean of 3.33 sessions (SD 1.09). For patients, significant group differences in favor of the CBM group were found for cognitive (d = 1.05) and general disease symptoms (d = 0.93), and relationship well-being (d = 0.68) and compassion (d = 0.96). No significant group differences were revealed for partners.

conclusionIt seems to be feasible, acceptable, and possibly efficacious to deliver a dyadic intervention via FaceTime to brain tumor couples. Although both patients and partners in the CBM group rated the intervention as beneficial, significant group differences with medium-to-large effect sizes were only found for patients.

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsMeditationMindfulnessEmpathyHumansPilot ProjectsBrain tumorcaregiverscouplesmeditationpsychosocial interventionquality of lifesymptomsvideoconference

Identifiers

PMID32061834
PMCPMC11816621

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.