Psychosocial Interventions With Cognitive-Behavioral Components for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Open accessAbstract
Background: Cancer-related traumatic stress symptoms, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can significantly impact the quality of life and psychological adjustment of patients and survivors with cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective intervention previously shown to ameliorate non-cancer-related PTSD. Because of some of the unique aspects of cancer-related traumatic stress, such as the internal and ongoing nature of the traumatic stressor, it is important to review the overall efficacy of CBT interventions in populations with cancer. Objective: To review the findings of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) testing the efficacy of interventions with CBT components for cancer-related traumatic stress symptoms, including intrusion and avoidance, in adults with cancer. Methods: Eligible RCTs were identified via search of OVID, PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus. Bayesian random effects analysis of treatment effect sizes (ES) was conducted in a portion of the studies for which data were available. Results: Nineteen RCTs met search criteria. Six trials reported reductions in traumatic stress symptoms as a result of the intervention and 13 studies reported null findings. Bayesian modeling based on 13 studies showed no overall discernible effect of interventions with CBT components on intrusion and avoidance symptoms. Conclusions: Most of the studies were not designed to target traumatic stress symptoms in highly distressed patients with cancer and did not include previously validated CBT components, such as cognitive restructuring and exposure. Thus, there was insufficient evidence from which to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of CBT interventions for the treatment of cancer-related traumatic stress symptoms, including PTSD. However, interventions with CBT components may have potential for the reduction of PTSD symptoms in highly distressed patients. Future research should focus on testing trauma-focused interventions in demographically and clinically diverse samples.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
O'Toole et al. employed a definition of cognitive behavioral therapy according to the intervention strategies actually employed.
“In contrast, a narrative systematic review by O'Toole et al. 26 employed a definition of CBT according to the intervention strategies actually employed”
From Cognitive behavioral therapies for informal caregivers of patients with cancer and cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Gelman, A., Carlin, J. B., Stern, H. S., Dunson, D. B., Vehtari, A., & Rubin, D. B. (2013) · doi:10.1201/b16018 · Cited by 27,276 · see citing works
Impact of Event Scale: A Measure of Subjective Stress
Horowitz, M., Wilner, N., & Alvarez, W. (1979) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-197905000-00004 · Cited by 7,813 · see citing works
The development of a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale
Blake, D. D., Weathers, F. W., Nagy, L. M., Kaloupek, D. G., Gusman, F. D., Charney, D. S., & Keane, T. M. (1995) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.2490080106 · Cited by 5,024 · see citing works
Meta-Analytic Procedures for Social Research
Rosenthal, R. (1991) · doi:10.4135/9781412984997 · Cited by 4,635 · see citing works
Meta-Analytic Procedures for Social Research.
Metcalfe, A., & Rosenthal, R. (1994) · Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series D (The Statistician) · doi:10.2307/2348600 · Cited by 4,249 · see citing works
The Impact of Event Scale: Revised
Weiss, D. S. (2007) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-70990-1_10 · Cited by 3,009 · see citing works
Reliability and validity of a brief instrument for assessing post-traumatic stress disorder
Foa, E. B., Riggs, D. S., Dancu, C. V., & Rothbaum, B. O. (1993) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.2490060405 · Cited by 2,537 · see citing works
Meta-analysis of experiments with matched groups or repeated measures designs
Dunlap, W. P., Cortina, J. M., Vaslow, J. B., & Burke, M. J. (1996) · Psychological Methods · doi:10.1037/1082-989x.1.2.170 · Cited by 1,693 · see citing works
Freeman, A. M. (2001) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.v62n1112 · Cited by 1,667 · see citing works
R2WinBUGS : A Package for Running WinBUGS from R
Sturtz, S., Ligges, U., & Gelman, A. (2005) · Journal of Statistical Software · doi:10.18637/jss.v012.i03 · Cited by 1,566 · see citing works
Foa, E. B., Rothbaum, B. O., Riggs, D. S., & Murdock, T. B. (1991) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.59.5.715 · Cited by 1,444 · see citing works
Foa, E. B., Rothbaum, B. O., Riggs, D. S., & Murdock, T. B. (1991) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.59.5.715 · Cited by 1,444 · see citing works
Antoni, M. H., Lehman, J. M., Kilbourn, K. M., Boyers, A. E., Culver, J. L., Alferi, S. M., Yount, S. E., McGregor, B. A., Arena, P. L., Harris, S. D., et al. (2001) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.20.1.20 · Cited by 1,011 · see citing works
Antoni, M. H., Lehman, J. M., Klibourn, K. M., Boyers, A. E., Culver, J. L., Alferi, S. M., Yount, S., McGregor, B. A., Arena, P. L., Harris, S. D., et al. (2001) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037//0278-6133.20.1.20 · Cited by 1,008 · see citing works
Bayesian Analysis for the Social Sciences
Jackman, S. D. (2009) · Wiley series in probability and statistics · doi:10.1002/9780470686621 · Cited by 764 · see citing works
Bayesian methods in meta-analysis and evidence synthesis
Sutton, A. J., & Abrams, K. R. (2001) · Statistical Methods in Medical Research · doi:10.1177/096228020101000404 · Cited by 713 · see citing works
Friedman, M. J., Resick, P. A., Bryant, R. A., & Brewin, C. R. (2011) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20767 · Cited by 629 · see citing works
Osborn, R. L., Demoncada, A. C., & Feuerstein, M. (2006) · The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine · doi:10.2190/eufn-rv1k-y3tr-fk0l · Cited by 621 · see citing works
Newell, S. (2002) · JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute · doi:10.1093/jnci/94.8.558 · Cited by 592 · see citing works
Kangas, M., Bovbjerg, D. H., & Montgomery, G. H. (2008) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0012825 · Cited by 428 · see citing works
Safren, S. A., O’Cleirigh, C. M., Tan, J. Y., Raminani, S. R., Reilly, L. C., Otto, M. W., & Mayer, K. H. (2009) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0012715 · Cited by 394 · see citing works
Jacobsen, P. B., & Jim, H. S. (2008) · CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians · doi:10.3322/ca.2008.0003 · Cited by 382 · see citing works
Tatrow, K., & Montgomery, G. H. (2006) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-005-9036-1 · Cited by 349 · see citing works
Scott, J. L., Halford, W. K., & Ward, B. G. (2004) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.72.6.1122 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Mosher, C. E., Redd, W. H., Rini, C. M., Burkhalter, J. E., & DuHamel, K. N. (2009) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.1399 · Cited by 315 · see citing works
Self-citationBränström, R., Kvillemo, P., Brandberg, Y., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2010) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12160-010-9168-6 · Cited by 312 · see citing works
A guide to guidelines for the treatment of PTSD and related conditions
Forbes, D., Creamer, M., Bisson, J. I., Cohen, J. A., Crow, B. E., Foa, E. B., Friedman, M. J., Keane, T. M., Kudler, H. S., & Ursano, R. J. (2010) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20565 · Cited by 307 · see citing works
Reliability and validity of a brief instrument for assessing post-traumatic stress disorder
Foa, E. B., Riggs, D. S., Dancu, C. V., et al. (1993) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1007/bf00974317 · Cited by 289 · see citing works
Post-traumatic stress disorder in cancer: a review
Smith, M. Y., Redd, W. H., Peyser, C., & Vogl, D. T. (1999) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1611(199911/12)8:6 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Estimation in Parallel Randomized Experiments
Rubin, D. B. (1981) · Journal of Educational Statistics · doi:10.3102/10769986006004377 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
Cancer survivorship and psychological distress in later life
Deimling, G. T., Kahana, B., Bowman, K. F., & Schaefer, M. L. (2002) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.614 · Cited by 240 · see citing works
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post-Traumatic Stress
(2004) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e610262007-001 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
Antoni, M. H., Wimberly, S. R., Lechner, S. C., Kazi, A., Sifre, T., Urcuyo, K. R., Phillips, K. K., Smith, R. G., Petronis, V. M., Guellati, S., et al. (2006) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.2006.163.10.1791 · Cited by 236 · see citing works
Stanton, A. L., Ganz, P. A., Kwan, L., Meyerowitz, B. E., Bower, J. E., Krupnick, J. L., Rowland, J. H., Leedham, B., & Belin, T. R. (2005) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2005.09.101 · Cited by 236 · see citing works
Stress Response Syndromes and Cancer: Conceptual and Assessment Issues
Gurevich, M., Devins, G. M., & Rodin, G. (2002) · Psychosomatics · doi:10.1176/appi.psy.43.4.259 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Andersen, B. L., Farrar, W. B., Golden‐Kreutz, D. M., Emery, C. F., Glaser, R., Crespin, T. R., & Carson, W. E. (2007) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2007.03.005 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Randomized pilot of a self-guided internet coping group for women with early-stage breast cancer
Owen, J. E., Klapow, J. C., Roth, D. L., Shuster, J. L., Bellis, J., Meredith, R., & Tucker, D. C. (2005) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1207/s15324796abm3001_7 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
The efficacy of a mind-body-spirit group for women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Targ, E. F., & Levine, E. G. (2002) · General Hospital Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0163-8343(02)00191-3 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Schneider, S., Moyer, A., Knapp-Oliver, S., Sohl, S., Cannella, D., & Targhetta, V. (2010) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-009-9227-2 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Couple-Focused Group Intervention for Women With Early Stage Breast Cancer.
Manne, S. L., Ostroff, J. S., Winkel, G. H., Fox, K. R., Grana, G., Miller, E., Ross, S., & Frazier, T. G. (2005) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.73.4.634 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
DuHamel, K. N., Mosher, C. E., Winkel, G., Labay, L. E., Rini, C., Meschian, Y. M., Austin, J., Greene, P. B., Lawsin, C. R., Rusiewicz, A., et al. (2010) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2009.26.8722 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Self-citationAllen, S. M., Shah, A. C., Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., Ciambrone, D., Hogan, J., & Mor, V. (2002) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.10586 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Marcus, A. C., Garrett, K. M., Cella, D., Wenzel, L., Brady, M. J., Fairclough, D., Pate‐Willig, M., Barnes, D., Powell Emsbo, S., Kluhsman, B. C., et al. (2010) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.1653 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
The Course of Psychological Disorders in the 1st Year After Cancer Diagnosis.
Kangas, M., Henry, J. L., & Bryant, R. A. (2005) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.73.4.763 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Individual Psychosocial Support for Breast Cancer Patients
Arving, C., ́n, P.-O. S., Bergh, J. C. S., Hellbom, M., Johansson, B., Glimelius, B. L. G., & Brandberg, Y. (2007) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/01.ncc.0000270709.64790.05 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Muss, H. B., Hunter, C. P., Wesley, M., et al. (1992) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19921115)70:10 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Parker, P. A., Pettaway, C. A., Babaian, R. J., Pisters, L. L., Miles, B., Fortier, A., Wei, Q., Carr, D. D., & Cohen, L. (2009) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2007.16.0036 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Moyer, A. E., Sohl, S. J., Knapp‐Oliver, S. K., & Schneider, S. (2009) · Cancer Treatment Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.02.003 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
A presurgical psychosocial intervention for breast cancer patients
Larson, M. R., Duberstein, P. R., Talbot, N. L., Caldwell, C., & Moynihan, J. A. (2000) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(99)00110-5 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Psychosocial perspectives on post-traumatic stress
Joseph, S. (1995) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/0272-7358(95)00029-o · Cited by 82 · see citing works
The role of psychological factors in cancer incidence and prognosis.
Fox, B. H. (1995) · PubMed · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Manne, S. L., Rubin, S. C., Edelson, M. I., Rosenblum, N., Bergman, C. A., Hernández, E., Carlson, J., Rocereto, T. F., & Winkel, G. H. (2007) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.75.4.615 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Change in post-traumatic stress symptoms following psychosocial treatment for breast cancer
Levine, E. G., Eckhardt, J., & Targ, E. (2005) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.882 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Manne, S. L., & Andrykowski, M. A. (2006) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1207/s15324796abm3202_4 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
The Relationship Between Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Cancer.
Kangas, M., Henry, J. L., & Bryant, R. A. (2005) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.73.2.360 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Dialysis Patients’ Attitudes about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Stopping Dialysis
Holley, J. L., Finucane, T. E., & Moss, A. H. (2008) · American Journal of Nephrology · doi:10.1159/000167974 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Improving the Recognition and Treatment of Cancer-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
French-Rosas, L. N., Moye, J., & Naik, A. D. (2011) · Journal of Psychiatric Practice · doi:10.1097/01.pra.0000400264.30043.ae · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Wengström, C. H. Y. Y. (1999) · Acta Oncologica · doi:10.1080/028418699432923 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Antoni, M. H. (2006) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.10.1791 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Johansson, B., Brandberg, Y., Hellbom, M., Persson, C., Petersson, L., Berglund, G., & Glimelius, B. L. G. (2008) · British Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6604789 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Chan, Y. M., Lee, P. W. H., Fong, D., Fung, A. S. M., Wu, L., Choi, A. Y. Y., Ng, T.-B., Ngan, H., & Wong, L. C. (2005) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2005.02.069 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
A randomised pilot of a self-help workbook intervention for breast cancer survivors
Beatty, L., Oxlad, M., Koczwara, B., & Wade, T. D. (2010) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-010-0962-2 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Psychological treatments in liaison psychiatry: the evidence base
Guthrie, E. (2006) · Clinical Medicine · doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.6-6-544 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
PTSD: Treatment Efficacy and Future Directions
Cahill, S. P., & Foa, E. B. (2007) · The Psychiatric times · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Marks, I., Lovell, K., Noshirvani, H., Livanou, M., & Thrasher, S. (1998) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.55.4.317 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Hunt, N. C. (2012) · Journal of Traumatic Stress Disorders & Treatment · doi:10.4172/2324-8947.1000e101 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
- Applebaum A, Bedoya A, Wilkinson Hendrikson, E., J, Safren S, & O’Cleirigh C (under review). Are tailored PTSD interventions needed in HIV? The state of the science of interventions for targeting PTSD in HIV-infected adults. Manuscript submitted to Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
- Foa EB, Keane TM, Friedman MJ, & Cohen JA (Eds.). (2009). Effective treatments for PTSD: Practice guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
- Glass GV, & Hopkins KD (1984). Statistical methods in education and psychology (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
- Rothbaum BO, Foa EB, Riggs DS, Murdock T, & Walsh W (1992). A prospective examination of post-traumatic stress disorder in rape victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5, 455– 475.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer
Cordova, M. J., Riba, M. B., & Spiegel, D. (2017) · The Lancet Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(17)30014-7 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
Pérez-Aranda, A., Feliu-Soler, A., Montero-Marín, J., García-Campayo, J., Andrés-Rodríguez, L., Borràs, X., Rozadilla-Sacanell, A., Peñarrubia-Maria, M. T., Angarita-Osorio, N., McCracken, L. M., et al. (2019) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001655 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
O'Toole, M. S., Zachariae, R., Renna, M. E., Mennin, D. S., & Applebaum, A. (2017) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.4144 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Self-citationSanabria-Mazo, J. P., Colomer-Carbonell, A., Borràs, X., Castaño-Asins, J. R., McCracken, L. M., Montero-Marin, J., Pérez-Aranda, A., Edo, S., Sanz, A., Feliu-Soler, A., et al. (2023) · The Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2023.04.008 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Lei, F., Lee, E., Shin, J., & Lee, S.-Y. (2023) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0282887 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Kanser Tanısı Olan Kişilerde Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi Uygulamaları: Sistematik Bir Derleme
Baş, S., & Dirik, G. (2019) · Psikoloji Çalışmaları / Studies in Psychology · doi:10.26650/sp2019-0025 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Nenova, M., Morris, L., Paul, L., Li, Y., Applebaum, A., & DuHamel, K.
- Affiliations
- The New School (US)
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 258-284
- ISSN
- 0889-8391 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-887X
- PMC
- PMC11056102
- OpenAlex
- W2006415333
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 0.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (P30CA008748)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychosocial interventions, cancer survivors, intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, trauma-focused interventions, treatment efficacy
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
