Psychological interventions showed different emotional-outcome patterns in adults with cancer
A review of randomized trials in adult cancer patients reported improvements in depression, distress and coping across different psychological programs. Comparison conditions and numerical effect estimates were absent from the abstract.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Structured psychotherapy had the largest reported effects, particularly for depression. Mindfulness programs showed improvements in distress and emotional regulation, while coping and resilience programs showed smaller gains in adaptive coping. The abstract does not provide the numerical estimates or comparator details needed to judge practical importance or establish that one program is better than another.
The abstract omits effect estimates, confidence intervals, comparison conditions and follow-up durations. Study results varied, partly with program type, delivery format and cancer subtype, which limits a single conclusion for all patients.
Different programs targeted different outcomes
The review separated structured psychotherapy, mindfulness and stress reduction, and coping or resilience programs. Depression, distress and coping are distinct outcomes; an improvement in one should not be assumed to mean improvement in every other outcome.
Ranking needs more information
The authors described psychotherapy as having the largest effects, especially for depression. Without numerical results and details of the comparisons, that description cannot tell a reader how much benefit to expect or which program suits a particular patient.
The original publication
Mind over Malignancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Psychological Distress, Coping, and Therapeutic Interventions in Oncology.
Paslaru AM, Plesea-Condratovici A, Moroianu LA et al.
Medicina (Kaunas) · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40572774
- Record checked
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