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Overview
A study examined the effects of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (MICBT) on the anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and stress experienced by Iranian women with breast cancer (Moghadam et al., 2025). While the onset of breast cancer can be seen up to a decade earlier in Iranian women than in developed countries, the overall mortality rate has decreased because of early detection (Moghadam et al., 2025). The psychological toll associated with a breast cancer diagnosis combined with the effect that different treatment options have on patients can negatively impact their overall quality of life.
Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MICBT)
MICBT helps individuals with metacognitive awareness, selective attention to internal and external stimuli, and avoidance (Moghadam et al., 2025). The first stage of MICBT is the personal stage, where individuals learn to regulate their emotions and attention. The second stage of MICBT is exposure, where individuals learn to reduce avoidant tendencies. The third stage of this therapy is the interpersonal stage, where individuals increase their awareness of boundaries and strengthen their assertiveness. The last stage of MICBT is empathy, where individuals expand their moral awareness and overall sense of compassion (Moghadam et al., 2025).
Method
This study followed a clinical trial design, with pre and post-tests as well as a two-month follow-up. There were 30 participants, all of whom had a breast cancer diagnosis. Half of the participants were placed in the intervention group that received MICBT, while the other half were placed in the control group and received a self-help book. Data was collected through the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), demographic questionnaires, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Moghadam et al., 2025).
Results
The results of this study showed that MICBT was effective in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression, and improving sleep quality. The researchers suggested that psychologists and counselors integrate this practice into their treatment plans. This study did have several limitations, as some of the participants experienced severe fatigue from their chemotherapy treatments. Another limitation is that each participant was undergoing different drug treatments. These differences in drug treatments can result in different psychological effects. The study also had a small sample size and was limited to Iranian women (Moghadam et al., 2025).
Embrace Discussion
While the findings of this study are very informative, we have to acknowledge that there are limitations and barriers that individuals could experience when trying to obtain this type of therapeutic intervention. The group that the study is centered around is Iranian women, so there is a lack of cultural diversity that could skew how MICBT is given to those within different cultures and its possible effectiveness. There is also the discussion that the women who participated in the study had various opportunities to be involved in scientific research that allowed them to experience the benefits of therapeutic intervention. The Iranian women who were not involved in the study could have limited access to the findings or have limited opportunities to engage in this type of therapeutic intervention.
MICBT is a researched therapeutic intervention that would need to be done by a licensed mental health practitioner. This will likely require finding mental health services by a practitioner experienced with this type of treatment. It could pose many barriers if the individual has limited access to: mental health services, minimal or no insurance coverage, extended wait-list times, and cultural stigmas around therapy services. Before this type of intervention can be utilized by a broader group of individuals, the limitations it can pose must be addressed.
References:
Moghadam, M. S., Parvizifard, A., Foroughi, A., Ahmadi, S. M., & Farshchian, N. (2025). An examination of the effectiveness of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on depression, anxiety, stress and sleep quality in Iranian women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85745-1