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Cited by 74Cancer survivorship and careMusic Therapy and HealthMindfulness and Compassion Interventions

Are psychological interventions effective on anxiety in cancer patients? A systematic review and meta-analyses

Sanjida, Saira, McPhail, Steven M., Shaw, Joanne, Couper, Jeremy, Kissane, David, Price, Melanie A., Janda, Monika·2018·Psycho-Oncology
DOI 10.1002/pon.4794
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this meta-analysis were to estimate the overall effect size (ES) of psychological interventions on anxiety in patients with cancer and extract sample and intervention characteristics that influence effectiveness. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, Medline, and CINAHL were searched using Medical Subject Heading keywords 'cancer' AND 'anxiety' AND 'psychological intervention' AND 'counselling' AND 'psycho*' AND 'psychotherapy' AND 'psychosocial' AND 'therapy' between January 1993 and June 2017. RESULTS: Seventy-one studies were eligible for the systematic review; among them, 51 studies were included in the meta-analysis calculations. The overall ES was -0.21 (95% confidence interval; -0.30 to -0.13) in favour of the intervention. From subgroup analyses, studies conducted in Asia, enrolling inpatients, focussing on relaxation, of <6-week intervention duration, <30-minute intervention dose per session, and <4 hours of total time of intervention showed moderate ESs ranging from -0.40 to -0.55. Only 2 studies restricted enrolment to prescreened patients with clinically elevated level of anxiety and showed moderate ES of -0.58. CONCLUSIONS: Low psychological distress at baseline and nonevidence-based interventions were the main factors identified for low effectiveness. Screening and assessment to determine clinical levels of anxiety in patients with cancer should be considered in future trials as an inclusion criterion before providing psychological interventions. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD42017056132.

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Crossref · 10.1002/pon.4794

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  • Our findings differ from recent meta-analyses investigating the efficacy of anxiety-based psychological interventions on anxiety in patients with cancer, which found an overall pooled effect size in the small range.

    “Our findings differ from recent meta-analyses investigating the efficacy of anxiety-based psychological interventions on anxiety in patients with cancer, which found an overall pooled effect size in the small range (Sanjida et al., 2018).”

    From Do non-pharmacological sleep interventions affect anxiety symptoms? A meta-analysis (2022) · cites this paper as Sanjida et al., 2018

  • Recent meta-analyses showed psychotherapy overall produced a moderate decrease in depression and a small effect on anxiety, with those with more severe symptoms benefiting most.

    “Many psychotherapeutic modalities are used to assist those living with advanced cancer in managing depression and/or anxiety (Watson and Kissane, 2011) and recent meta-analyses showed that psychotherapy overall produced a moderate decrease in depression (Okuyama et al., 2017) and a small effect on anxiety (Sanjida et al., 2018) with both reviews noting that those with the more severe symptoms bene”

    From A mixed methods pilot and feasibility open trial of internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (iCanADAPT Advanced) for people with advanced cancer with depression and/or anxiety (2021) · cites this paper as Sanjida et al., 2018

  • Sanjida et al. found a small but significant effect size in managing anxiety in people with advanced cancer.

    “Sanjida et al. (57) hallaron un tamaño del efecto pequeño pero significativo en el manejo de la ansiedad en personas con cáncer avanzado.”

    From AVANZACT: protocolo e intervención psicoterapéutica en cáncer avanzado basados en Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso. (2025) · cites this paper as Sanjida et al. (57)

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Authors
Sanjida, S., McPhail, S. M., Shaw, J., Couper, J., Kissane, D., Price, M. A., & Janda, M.
Affiliations
  • Queensland University of Technology (AU)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • Monash University (AU)
ORCID
Venue
Psycho-Oncology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-07-16
Volume
27
Issue
9
Pages
2063-2076
ISSN
  • 1057-9249 (ISSN-L)
  • 1099-1611
DOI
10.1002/pon.4794
OpenAlex
W2807448195
Cited by
74
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 2
FWCI
0.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Psycho-Oncology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (#11051021, #1090440)
  • Advance Queensland
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Keywords
psychological intervention, anxiety, cancer patients, psychotherapy, relaxation training, psychosocial interventions, intervention effectiveness, hospitalized patients
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Humans, Inpatients, Neoplasms, Prospective Studies, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy, Group, Quality of Life, Stress, Psychological

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