ORIGINAL ARTICLE A non-randomized comparison of mindfulness-based stress reduction and healing arts programs for facilitating post-traumatic growth and spirituality in cancer outpatients Sheila N. Garland & Linda E. Carlson & Sarah Cook & Laura Lansdell & Michael Speca Received: 6 June 2007 / Accepted: 7 June 2007 / Published online: 5 July 2007 # Springer-Verlag 2007 Abstract Goals of work The aim of this study was to compare a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and a healing through the creative arts (HA) program on measures of post-traumatic growth (PTGI-R), spirituality (FACIT-Sp), stress (SOSI), and mood disturbance (POMS) in cancer patients. Materials and methods A sample of cancer outpatients (MBSR, n =60; HA, n =44) with a variety of diagnoses chose to attend either an 8-week MBSR program or a 6- week HA program and were assessed pre- and post- intervention. The majority of participants were female, married, and had breast cancer. Main results Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that participants in both groups improved signif- icantly over time on overall post-traumatic growth (p = 0.015). Participants in the MBSR group improved on measures of spirituality more than those in the HA group (p =0.029). Participants in the MBSR group also showed more improvement than those in HA on measures of anxiety (POMS, p =0.038), anger (POMS, p =0.004), overall stress symptoms (SOSI, p =0.041), and mood disturbance (POMS, p =0.023). Several main effects of time were also observed in both groups. These results were found despite attrition in both groups. Conclusions Both programs may improve facilitation of positive growth after traumatic life experiences for those who choose to participate. MBSR may be more helpful than HA in enhancing spirituality and reducing stress, depression, and anger. Keywords Mindfulness-based stress reduction . Meditation . Creative therapy . Post-traumatic growth . Spirituality . Cancer Introduction Cancer and its treatment often cause symptoms and side effects of variable nature, severity, and duration in patients. Pain, physical dysfunction, fatigue, nausea, and hair loss are prevalent and associated with concomitant psychological and emotional reactions such as anxiety [26], distress [10], and depression [44] documented in a quarter to half of all cancer patients [10, 51]. These negative physical and psychological effects can have a serious and enduring impact on quality of life; not surprisingly, a large amount of professional interest has been paid to assessing and treating these consequences. Indeed, some have asserted that cancer may be one of the most challenging diseases to treat because of the various Support Care Cancer (2007) 15:949–961 DOI 10.1007/s00520-007-0280-5 L. E. Carlson Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, 1331 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada S. N. Garland : L. E. Carlson : S. Cook : L. Lansdell Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada L. E. Carlson (*) Alberta Cancer Board–Holy Cross Site, Department of Psychosocial Resources, 2202 2nd Street SW, Calgary, AB T2S 3C1 Canada e-mail: l.carlson@ucalgary.ca M. Speca Department of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Calgary, 1331 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada