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Cited by 75Pain Management and Opioid UsePalliative and Oncologic CareCancer survivorship and care

Psychosocial Interventions for Pain Management in Advanced Cancer Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Open access
Warth, Marco, Zöller, Joshua, Köhler, Friederike, Aguilar-Raab, Corina, Kessler, Jens, Ditzen, Beate·2020·Current Oncology Reports
DOI 10.1007/s11912-020-0870-7PMC PMC8035102
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Abstract

Purpose of Review: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the evidence on the effects of psychosocial interventions on pain in advanced cancer patients. Recent Findings: The included studies investigated the effects of relaxation techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy, music therapy, mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions, and supportive-expressive group therapy. Overall, we found a small, but significant effect on pain intensity ( d = − 0.29, CI = − 0.54 to − 0.05). Effect sizes were highly heterogeneous between studies. We did not find evidence for the superiority of any of the intervention types. However, psychosocial interventions may be more effective if they specifically targeted pain distress as the primary outcome. Summary: Although findings were mixed, psychosocial interventions can be recommended to complement comprehensive care to alleviate pain in patients facing an advanced or terminal stage of the disease. Future research should develop innovative interventions tailored specifically for pain relief.

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  • A recent review of psychosocial interventions including relaxation techniques for pain management in advanced cancer reported a small but significant effect on pain (d = -0.29).

    “A recent review of psychosocial interventions (including relaxation techniques) for pain management in advanced cancer reported a small but significant effect on pain (d = -0.29)(Warth et al. 2020).”

    From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as Warth et al. 2020

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Authors
Warth, M., Zöller, J., Köhler, F., Aguilar-Raab, C., Kessler, J., & Ditzen, B.
Affiliations
  • University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
  • Heidelberg University (DE)
Corresponding author
Warth, Marco
ORCID
Venue
Current Oncology Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-01
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
3-3
ISSN
  • 1523-3790 (ISSN-L)
  • 1534-6269
DOI
10.1007/s11912-020-0870-7
PMC
PMC8035102
OpenAlex
W3002463770
Cited by
75
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4
FWCI
3.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
correction (2021-04-22)
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Current Oncology Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • MADOC (University of Mannheim) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Hector Stiftung
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
Keywords
psychosocial interventions, cancer pain, advanced cancer, pain management, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, music therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, acceptance and commitment therapy, supportive-expressive group therapy, pain intensity, pain-related distress
MeSH terms
Cancer Pain, Psychosocial Intervention, Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Pain Management

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