Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia

Background: Fatigue is a troublesome symptom in cancer survivors that often results from disrupted sleep. We sought to assess whether two insomnia-focused non-pharmacological interventions are also effective for improving fatigue. Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial comparing...

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Main Authors: Xiaotong Li, Kevin T. Liou, Susan Chimonas, Karolina Bryl, Greta Wong, Eugenie Spiguel, Susan Q. Li, Sheila N. Garland, Ting Bao, Jun J. Mao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-03-01
Series:Integrative Medicine Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422023000021
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author Xiaotong Li
Kevin T. Liou
Susan Chimonas
Karolina Bryl
Greta Wong
Eugenie Spiguel
Susan Q. Li
Sheila N. Garland
Ting Bao
Jun J. Mao
author_facet Xiaotong Li
Kevin T. Liou
Susan Chimonas
Karolina Bryl
Greta Wong
Eugenie Spiguel
Susan Q. Li
Sheila N. Garland
Ting Bao
Jun J. Mao
author_sort Xiaotong Li
collection DOAJ
description Background: Fatigue is a troublesome symptom in cancer survivors that often results from disrupted sleep. We sought to assess whether two insomnia-focused non-pharmacological interventions are also effective for improving fatigue. Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) versus acupuncture for insomnia among cancer survivors. Participants were 109 patients who reported insomnia and moderate or worse fatigue. Interventions were delivered over eight weeks. Fatigue was evaluated at baseline, week 8, and week 20 using the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF). We used both mediation analysis and t-tests to explore the extent to which fatigue reduction was attributable to insomnia response. Results: Compared to baseline, both CBT-I and acupuncture produced significant reductions in total MFSI-SF scores at week 8 (−17.1 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −21.1 to −13.1, and −13.2 points; 95% CI: -17.2 to -9.2, respectively, all p<0.001) and week 20 (-14.6 points; 95% CI: -18.6 to -10.6, and −14.2 points; 95% CI: -18.1 to -10.3. respectively, all p<0.001), with no significant between-group differences. MFSI-SF total scores at week 8 were significantly associated with sleep improvements in both CBT-I and acupuncture groups (p<0.001 and p=0.011, respectively). Insomnia responders demonstrated significantly greater improvements in mean MFSI-SF total scores compared with non-responders in the CBT-I group (p=0.016) but not in the acupuncture group. Conclusion: CBT-I and acupuncture produced similar, clinically meaningful, and durable fatigue reductions in cancer survivors with insomnia, primarily through improvements in sleep. Acupuncture may also reduce fatigue through additional pathways. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02356575
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spelling doaj-art-17d907e78bce40c8b0bb6be55a0d00342025-08-20T01:51:24ZengElsevierIntegrative Medicine Research2213-42202023-03-0112110092210.1016/j.imr.2023.100922Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomniaXiaotong Li0Kevin T. Liou1Susan Chimonas2Karolina Bryl3Greta Wong4Eugenie Spiguel5Susan Q. Li6Sheila N. Garland7Ting Bao8Jun J. Mao9Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesIntegrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesCenter for Health Policy and Outcomes, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesIntegrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesIntegrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesIntegrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Department of Advanced Practice Providers, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesIntegrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Psychology and Oncology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, CanadaIntegrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United StatesIntegrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Corresponding author at: Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 321 East 61st Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10065, United States.Background: Fatigue is a troublesome symptom in cancer survivors that often results from disrupted sleep. We sought to assess whether two insomnia-focused non-pharmacological interventions are also effective for improving fatigue. Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) versus acupuncture for insomnia among cancer survivors. Participants were 109 patients who reported insomnia and moderate or worse fatigue. Interventions were delivered over eight weeks. Fatigue was evaluated at baseline, week 8, and week 20 using the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF). We used both mediation analysis and t-tests to explore the extent to which fatigue reduction was attributable to insomnia response. Results: Compared to baseline, both CBT-I and acupuncture produced significant reductions in total MFSI-SF scores at week 8 (−17.1 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −21.1 to −13.1, and −13.2 points; 95% CI: -17.2 to -9.2, respectively, all p<0.001) and week 20 (-14.6 points; 95% CI: -18.6 to -10.6, and −14.2 points; 95% CI: -18.1 to -10.3. respectively, all p<0.001), with no significant between-group differences. MFSI-SF total scores at week 8 were significantly associated with sleep improvements in both CBT-I and acupuncture groups (p<0.001 and p=0.011, respectively). Insomnia responders demonstrated significantly greater improvements in mean MFSI-SF total scores compared with non-responders in the CBT-I group (p=0.016) but not in the acupuncture group. Conclusion: CBT-I and acupuncture produced similar, clinically meaningful, and durable fatigue reductions in cancer survivors with insomnia, primarily through improvements in sleep. Acupuncture may also reduce fatigue through additional pathways. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02356575http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422023000021FatigueInsomniaAcupunctureCognitive behavioral therapyCancer
spellingShingle Xiaotong Li
Kevin T. Liou
Susan Chimonas
Karolina Bryl
Greta Wong
Eugenie Spiguel
Susan Q. Li
Sheila N. Garland
Ting Bao
Jun J. Mao
Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
Integrative Medicine Research
Fatigue
Insomnia
Acupuncture
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cancer
title Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
title_full Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
title_fullStr Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
title_full_unstemmed Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
title_short Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
title_sort addressing cancer related fatigue through sleep a secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
topic Fatigue
Insomnia
Acupuncture
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cancer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422023000021
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