Stress program eased overall distress, while perceived stress remained uncertain
Among people with myeloma precursor conditions, immediate stress-management training improved overall distress compared with waiting. Perceived stress and anxiety did not show statistically clear advantages.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
For participants with these precursor conditions, immediate participation improved overall distress more than waiting, but did not produce a statistically clear reduction in perceived stress. Depression, coping, and optimism also improved relative to the waitlist. These mixed results support a specific psychological finding rather than a broad claim of stress reduction.
This was an exploratory secondary analysis. Outcome scales and comparative results at the later follow-up are absent from the abstract, limiting interpretation of improvement size and persistence.
What researchers found
Distinct psychological outcomes
Immediate training versus waitlist, baseline to 3 months: overall distress improved more, while perceived-stress changes did not differ significantly. The abstract does not name the scoring scales.
Distress and stress were separate outcomes
The study measured overall distress separately from perceived stress. Improvement in the broader distress measure therefore cannot establish improvement in perceived stress, for which the comparison with waiting remained statistically inconclusive.
Other outcomes retained uncertainty
Anxiety, mindfulness, gratitude, and the biological activity measured showed no statistically clear differences between groups. Psychological improvements do not establish an effect on progression from these precursor conditions to multiple myeloma.
The original publication
Psychosocial and NF-κB Activity Effects of the Stress Management and Resiliency Training: Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (SMART-3RP) on Patients With MGUS and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma: A Randomized Waitlist Control Trial.
Finkelstein-Fox L, Denninger JW, Walsh LE et al.
Psychooncology · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40681960
- Record checked
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