Mindfulness‐based stress reduction for menopausal symptoms after risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy (PURSUE study): a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To assess the short‐ and long‐term effects of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) on the resulting quality of life, sexual functioning, and sexual distress after risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy (RRSO). DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A specialised family cancer clinic of the university medical center Groningen. POPULATION: Sixty‐six women carriers of the BRCA1/2 mutation who developed at least two moderate‐to‐severe menopausal symptoms after RRSO. METHODS: Women were randomised to an 8‐week MBSR training programme or to care as usual (CAU). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in the Menopause‐Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Female Sexual Distress Scale, administered from baseline at 3, 6, and 12 months. Linear mixed modelling was applied to compare the effect of MBSR with CAU over time. RESULTS: At 3 and 12 months, there were statistically significant improvements in the MENQOL for the MBSR group compared with the CAU group (both P = 0.04). At 3 months, the mean MENQOL scores were 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI 3.0–3.9) and 3.8 (95% CI 3.3–4.2) for the MBSR and CAU groups, respectively; at 12 months, the corresponding values were 3.6 (95% CI 3.1–4.0) and 3.9 (95% CI 3.5–4.4). No significant differences were found between the MBSR and CAU groups in the other scores. CONCLUSION: Mindfulness‐based stress reduction was effective at improving quality of life in the short‐ and long‐term for patients with menopausal symptoms after RRSO; however, it was not associated with an improvement in sexual functioning or distress. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Mindfulness improves menopause‐related quality of life in women after risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy.