MenopausePhase 1/2NCT00156416
Menopause and Meditation for Breast Cancer Survivors
A Phase 1/2 study testing Mindfulness Meditation in people with Menopause, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
One of the consequences of breast cancer treatment for younger women is the abrupt onset of menopause and its related symptoms. Menopausal symptoms disrupt usual activities, alter sleep patterns and decrease quality of life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 70 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Menopause
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 51 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Feb 2005to Dec 2010
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 30 to 70 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- . Subjects will be selected based on their self-identification of menopausal hot flushes. Subjects may identify other menopausal symptoms but must have hot flushes. Inclusion criteria will include English speaking, self-identification of the menopausal symptom of hot flushes following treatment for breast cancer (stage I or II) and amenorrhea secondary to breast cancer treatment or for women with naturally occurring menopause amenorrhea of greater that one year but less than three years.
Who cannot join
- Exclusion criteria are, for women with breast cancer, amenorrhea of greater that one year prior to their diagnosis of breast cancer. Also, excluded is concurrent treatment of menopausal symptoms with hormonal supplementation, herbal remedies, acupuncture, acupressure or non-hormonal pharmacologic agents prescribed at doses specifically for hot flush relief (beta blockers, SSRIs). However, women taking either serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression or beta-blockers for hypertension who exhibit hot flushes sufficient to meet inclusion criteria will be accepted into the study. Previous treatment of menopausal symptoms with hormones, herbs or acupuncture, structured meditation and/or regular yoga practice must have ceased at least three months prior to enrollment in the study to allow for a sufficient wash out period. Women who are presently in chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer are excluded due to the potential confounding effect of mindfulness meditation on quality of life due to chemotherapy symptom relief. Women with a moderate to severe level of depression (>27), or suicidal thoughts or wishes, as measured by the Beck Depression Index, 2nd Ed (BDI-II), will be excluded and referred for treatment. However, following treatment for depression, they may enroll in the study assuming continuation of hot flushes at inclusion criteria levels.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261
About this study
One of the consequences of breast cancer treatment for younger women is the abrupt onset of menopause and its related symptoms. Menopausal symptoms disrupt usual activities, alter sleep patterns and decrease quality of life. The purpose of this randomized feasibility pilot study is to examine mindfulness meditation for menopausal symptom management for women who are breast cancer survivors and for women with naturally occurring menopause. The study is designed to: 1. establish the feasibility of a mindfulness meditation program for women who experience menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flushes). 2. explore the treatment benefit of a mindfulness meditation program for menopausal symptom relief using changes in frequency and severity of hot flushes; frequency of sleep disruption, various aspects of quality of life and physiologic stress response (cortisol) as outcome measures. 3. evaluate whether the treatment benefits of mindfulness meditation differ in menopausal women with naturally occurring menopause versus women with menopause secondary to chemotherapy for breast cancer. Participants randomized to the attention control group will be offered meditation training after completion of the intervention and follow up phases. Participants will attend 8 meditation sessions or 8 attention control sessions. Study variables are Menopausal Hot Flushes (self report \& skin conductance monitoring), Sleep Disruption (Pgh Sleep Quality Index), Physiologic Stress Response (cortisol), Quality of Life (Menopausal Quality of Life); and Protocol Design (recruitment \& retention rates, exit interviews). A convenience sample of 60 women who experience menopausal symptoms will be recruited.
Read the detailed description
One of the consequences of breast cancer treatment for younger women is the abrupt onset of menopause and its related symptoms. Menopausal symptoms disrupt usual activities, alter sleep patterns and decrease quality of life. In light of the recent findings from the Women's Health Initiative (re:use of exogenous estrogen), the need to investigate non-hormonal approaches (meditation) for short-term menopausal symptom discomfort is high. The purpose of this randomized feasibility pilot study is to examine mindfulness meditation for menopausal symptom management for women who are breast cancer survivors and for women with naturally occurring menopause. The study is designed to: 1. establish the feasibility of a mindfulness meditation program for women who experience menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flushes). 2. explore the treatment benefit of a mindfulness meditation program for menopausal symptom relief using changes in frequency and severity of hot flushes; frequency of sleep disruption, various aspects of quality of life and physiologic stress response (cortisol) as outcome measures. 3. evaluate whether the treatment benefits of mindfulness meditation differ in menopausal women with naturally occurring menopause versus women with menopause secondary to chemotherapy for breast cancer. A 2x2 factorial repeated design will be used. The four randomized groups will consist of 1) naturally occurring menopause meditation; 2) naturally occurring menopause attention control; 3) breast cancer survivors meditation; 4) breast cancer survivors attention. Participants randomized to the attention control group will be offered meditation training after completion of the intervention and follow up phases. Participants will attend 8 meditation sessions or 8 attention control sessions. Study variables are Menopausal Hot Flushes (self report \& skin conductance monitoring), Sleep Disruption (Pgh Sleep Quality Index), Physiologic Stress Response (cortisol), Quality of Life (Menopausal Quality of Life); and Protocol Design (recruitment \& retention rates, exit interviews). A convenience sample of 60 women who experience menopausal symptoms will be recruited. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics, repeated measures content analysis. Results from this feasibility pilot study will inform the design of a larger randomized clinical trial to test the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation as a self care intervention for menopausal symptom management and improvement in quality of life.
- Conditions
- Menopause
- Being tested
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Keywords
- menopause, hot flash, night sweat, meditation, breast cancer
- Medical subject headings
- Hot Flashes, Breast Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness MeditationBehavioural
8 weeks of meditation training
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Meditation group | Experimental | Participants received 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation instruction and support Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation |
| Education group | Active comparator | Participants received 8 weeks of healthy living instruction Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
hot flushes
Measured: 21 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Sleep
Measured: 21 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Sep 2005 (estimated)
- Study startFeb 2005
- Primary completionDec 2010
- Study completionDec 2010
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MenopauseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PittsburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Susan Cohen, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Susan M Cohen, Principal investigator, University of Pittsburgh
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00156416
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1R21CA106336-01A1
- Status last verified
- Dec 2014
- First submitted
- 7 Sep 2005
- Last updated
- 3 Dec 2014
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Dec 2014. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Menopause and Meditation for Breast Cancer Survivors
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00156416
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1R21CA106336-01A1
- Conditions
- Menopause
- Keywords
- menopause, hot flash, night sweat, meditation, breast cancer
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PittsburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Study start
- Feb 2005
- Primary completion
- Dec 2010 (actual)
- Study completion
- Dec 2010 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Sep 2005 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
One of the consequences of breast cancer treatment for younger women is the abrupt onset of menopause and its related symptoms. Menopausal symptoms disrupt usual activities, alter sleep patterns and decrease quality of life. The purpose of this randomized feasibility pilot study is to examine mindfulness meditation for menopausal symptom management for women who are breast cancer survivors and for women with naturally occurring menopause. The study is designed to: 1. establish the feasibility of a mindfulness meditation program for women who experience menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flushes). 2. explore the treatment benefit of a mindfulness meditation program for menopausal symptom relief using changes in frequency and severity of hot flushes; frequency of sleep disruption, various aspects of quality of life and physiologic stress response (cortisol) as outcome measures. 3. evaluate whether the treatment benefits of mindfulness meditation differ in menopausal women with naturally occurring menopause versus women with menopause secondary to chemotherapy for breast cancer. Participants randomized to the attention control group will be offered meditation training after completion of the intervention and follow up phases. Participants will attend 8 meditation sessions or 8 attention control sessions. Study variables are Menopausal Hot Flushes (self report \& skin conductance monitoring), Sleep Disruption (Pgh Sleep Quality Index), Physiologic Stress Response (cortisol), Quality of Life (Menopausal Quality of Life); and Protocol Design (recruitment \& retention rates, exit interviews). A convenience sample of 60 women who experience menopausal symptoms will be recruited.
Detailed description
One of the consequences of breast cancer treatment for younger women is the abrupt onset of menopause and its related symptoms. Menopausal symptoms disrupt usual activities, alter sleep patterns and decrease quality of life. In light of the recent findings from the Women's Health Initiative (re:use of exogenous estrogen), the need to investigate non-hormonal approaches (meditation) for short-term menopausal symptom discomfort is high. The purpose of this randomized feasibility pilot study is to examine mindfulness meditation for menopausal symptom management for women who are breast cancer survivors and for women with naturally occurring menopause. The study is designed to: 1. establish the feasibility of a mindfulness meditation program for women who experience menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flushes). 2. explore the treatment benefit of a mindfulness meditation program for menopausal symptom relief using changes in frequency and severity of hot flushes; frequency of sleep disruption, various aspects of quality of life and physiologic stress response (cortisol) as outcome measures. 3. evaluate whether the treatment benefits of mindfulness meditation differ in menopausal women with naturally occurring menopause versus women with menopause secondary to chemotherapy for breast cancer. A 2x2 factorial repeated design will be used. The four randomized groups will consist of 1) naturally occurring menopause meditation; 2) naturally occurring menopause attention control; 3) breast cancer survivors meditation; 4) breast cancer survivors attention. Participants randomized to the attention control group will be offered meditation training after completion of the intervention and follow up phases. Participants will attend 8 meditation sessions or 8 attention control sessions. Study variables are Menopausal Hot Flushes (self report \& skin conductance monitoring), Sleep Disruption (Pgh Sleep Quality Index), Physiologic Stress Response (cortisol), Quality of Life (Menopausal Quality of Life); and Protocol Design (recruitment \& retention rates, exit interviews). A convenience sample of 60 women who experience menopausal symptoms will be recruited. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics, repeated measures content analysis. Results from this feasibility pilot study will inform the design of a larger randomized clinical trial to test the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation as a self care intervention for menopausal symptom management and improvement in quality of life.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Meditation group | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness MeditationParticipants received 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation instruction and support |
| Education group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Mindfulness MeditationParticipants received 8 weeks of healthy living instruction |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 to 70 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- . Subjects will be selected based on their self-identification of menopausal hot flushes. Subjects may identify other menopausal symptoms but must have hot flushes. Inclusion criteria will include English speaking, self-identification of the menopausal symptom of hot flushes following treatment for breast cancer (stage I or II) and amenorrhea secondary to breast cancer treatment or for women with naturally occurring menopause amenorrhea of greater that one year but less than three years.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Exclusion criteria are, for women with breast cancer, amenorrhea of greater that one year prior to their diagnosis of breast cancer. Also, excluded is concurrent treatment of menopausal symptoms with hormonal supplementation, herbal remedies, acupuncture, acupressure or non-hormonal pharmacologic agents prescribed at doses specifically for hot flush relief (beta blockers, SSRIs). However, women taking either serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression or beta-blockers for hypertension who exhibit hot flushes sufficient to meet inclusion criteria will be accepted into the study. Previous treatment of menopausal symptoms with hormones, herbs or acupuncture, structured meditation and/or regular yoga practice must have ceased at least three months prior to enrollment in the study to allow for a sufficient wash out period. Women who are presently in chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer are excluded due to the potential confounding effect of mindfulness meditation on quality of life due to chemotherapy symptom relief. Women with a moderate to severe level of depression (>27), or suicidal thoughts or wishes, as measured by the Beck Depression Index, 2nd Ed (BDI-II), will be excluded and referred for treatment. However, following treatment for depression, they may enroll in the study assuming continuation of hot flushes at inclusion criteria levels.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness Meditation8 weeks of meditation training | Behavioural | Education group, Meditation group |
Primary outcome
hot flushes
Time frame: 21 weeks
1 secondary outcome
Sleep
Time frame: 21 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Dec 2014.
Related trials for Menopause
Recruiting
Hop Extract Versus Soy Isoflavone Extract for Menopausal Symptoms (HOPES)
Menopause, Perimenopause
Not yet recruiting
The Role of Diet Quality in Sleep Among Women in Postmenopause
Post Menopausal Women
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin Research in Infertility Assessing Cumulative Live Birth With Frozen Embryo Transfer.
Infertility (IVF Patients)
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Physiotherapy Outcomes in Postmenopausal Women With Frozen Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis
RecruitingObservational study
Observational Study of Bone Complications in People With Post-menopausal Breast Cancer Who Have Stopped Treatment With Denosumab and Aromatase Inhibitors
Breast Cancer
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Susan M Cohen principal investigator
University of Pittsburgh
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1/2 study testing Mindfulness Meditation in people with Menopause, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Dec 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
hot flushes (time frame: 21 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Dec 2014.