Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a consciousness discipline that is grounded in eastern philosophy and traditions such as yoga and Buddhism, focusing on awareness of the present moment. It aims to teach people to deal more effectively with experience through awareness of feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Participants learn to engage in mindfulness practices such as body scan, simple yoga exercises, and meditation. MBSR has been studied in patients with cancer for its effect on symptoms of anxiety, cognitive impairment, fatigue, sleep-wake disturbances, and depression. It has also been studied in caregivers of patients with cancer for its effect on caregiver strain and burden.