Review of psychotherapeutic interventions on depression in cancer patients and their impact on disease progression
Abstract
Depression, ranging from mild to severe, is the most frequently found psychological symptom among individuals with cancer. Depression in cancer patients has been known to mitigate emotional distress, quality of life, adherence to medical treatment, and overall health outcomes. Specifically, depression has been associated with impaired immune response and with poorer survival in patients with cancer. Various studies have found that psychotherapeutic interventions are effective in reducing symptoms of depression, which in turn could affect disease progression and mortality. This paper provides updated information on psychotherapeutic interventions geared towards cancer patients suffering from depressive disorders, and its impact on disease progression. PubMed, Cochrane Library database, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES databases were searched from January 1980 through August 2013 using key words: psychotherapy, treatment, oncology, cancer, psycho-oncology, psychosocial issues, psychosocial stress, depression, mood disorder, and psychoneuroimmunology.
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Extensive support has been found for psychosocial interventions in oncology, hospice and palliative care settings.
“Despite conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of death anxiety treatment in non-illness groups, extensive support has been found for psychosocial interventions in oncology, hospice and palliative care settings (Barrera & Spiegel, 2014;Chochinov et al., 2004;Spiegel, 1995).”
From Death anxiety and its role in psychopathology: Reviewing the status of a transdiagnostic construct (2014) · cites this paper as Barrera & Spiegel, 2014
Various procedures to treat death anxiety have been used in non-clinical samples.
“In these studies, various procedures to treat death anxiety have been used, including psychotherapy”
From Death anxiety and its role in psychopathology: Reviewing the status of a transdiagnostic construct (2014) · cites this paper as Barrera & Spiegel, 2014
End-of-life conditions may be associated with death anxiety, depression, and psychological distress.
“In contrast, there is considerable evidence that end-of-life conditions may be associated with death anxiety, depression, and psychological distress (Barrera & Spiegel, 2014;Lagerdahl, Moynihan, & Stollery, 2014;Lo et al., 2014;Royal & Elahi, 2011;Spiegel, 1995).”
From Death anxiety and its role in psychopathology: Reviewing the status of a transdiagnostic construct (2014) · cites this paper as Barrera & Spiegel, 2014
Existential-Humanistic therapeutic approaches have shown promise in the treatment of death anxiety in end-of-life care.
“In addition, a range of Existential-Humanistic therapeutic approaches have shown promise in the treatment of death anxiety in end-of-life care, including Dignity Therapy, Meaning-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive-Existential Group Therapy (Barrera & Spiegel, 2014;Breitbart et al., 2000;Chochinov et al., 2004;Kissane et al., 2004).”
From Death anxiety and its role in psychopathology: Reviewing the status of a transdiagnostic construct (2014) · cites this paper as Barrera & Spiegel, 2014
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- Authors
- Barrera, I., & Spiegel, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Miami (US)
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Barrera, Ingrid
- ORCID
- Spiegel, David
- Venue
- International Review of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-02
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 31-43
- ISSN
- 0954-0261 (ISSN-L)
- 1369-1627
- OpenAlex
- W2145151184
- Cited by
- 75
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 1.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Review of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- depression, cancer patients, psychotherapeutic interventions, psycho-oncology, disease progression, survival, psychoneuroimmunology, psychosocial stress, quality of life, medication adherence, immune response
- MeSH terms
- Depression, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Neoplasms, Psychotherapy, Disease Progression
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