Behavioral treatment of anticipatory nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy

Anticipatory nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy has been treated successfully with various behavioral techniques including hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation with guided imagery. Although effective, implementation of these techniques requires significant professional involvement. The present study investigated the application of simple word meditation to the problem of anticipatory nausea. This technique can be learned quickly and need not involve the presence of a professional after initial training.

Twenty chemotherapy patients who admitted to having anticipatory nausea were randomly assigned to one of two groups; Meditation or Nonspecific Factors Control. Subjects were seen individually, for a single 1-1/2-hour session. All subjects were given a presentation on the nature of anticipatory nausea and were told that the study involved the investigation of new techniques to alleviate it. Those in the Meditation group were then trained in the meditation technique as needed to combat their nausea. Those in the Control group were engaged in a non-directive "counseling" session in order to control for factors such as therapist time and attention. Baseline data were gathered regarding severity of anticipatory nausea as well as severity and duration of post-chemotherapy nausea. Expectancy for improvement was assessed following the session and controlled for statistically. Follow-up measures were taken after each patient's next two courses of chemotherapy.

Result s indicated that patients trained in meditation in a single session could effectively control anticipatory nausea. In addition, both severity and duration of post-chemotherapy nausea were significantly reduced. Control subjects showed no improvement. These results suggest that meditation is not only an effective technique for alleviating some of the discomfort associated with chemotherapy, but it is also cost-effective, as it can be taught in a very brief period and used by the patients with no further professional intervention.