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Psychotherapy for advanced cancer patients: A meta-analysis of the quality of life and survival assessments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2022

Yanqian Wu ,
Jiajia Pan ,
Yan Lu ,
Jianqian Chao  and
Heming Yu Open the ORCID record for Heming Yu [Opens in a new window]
Yanqian Wu
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P.R. China
Jiajia Pan
Affiliation:
Finance Section, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P.R. China
Yan Lu
Affiliation:
Department of Encephalopathy, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P.R. China
Jianqian Chao
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Insurance, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, P.R. China
Heming Yu*
Affiliation:
Department of Encephalopathy, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P.R. China
*
Author for correspondence: Heming Yu, Department of Encephalopathy, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.157 Daming Road, Nanjing 210022, P.R. China. E-mail: hmyu_njhosp@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives

A meta-analysis has explored the effect of psychotherapy on the quality of life (QOL) but has not explored the effect on advanced cancer patients’ survival, which is highly debated. Therefore, we consider the survival days and QOL as the primary outcomes in our analysis.

Methods

Eligible studies were collected from four databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) until February 20, 2021. The pooled effect sizes were presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) or relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Publication bias was evaluated by Egger's test, and I2 statistics was used to assess the heterogeneity.

Results

Thirty-three studies were finally included, containing 2,159 patients in the psychotherapy group and 2,170 patients in the control group. McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life-C15-Palliative (EORTC-QLQ-C15-Pal) supported that QOL of the psychotherapy group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and WMD value was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.12–0.71) and 17.26 (95% CI: 11.08–23.44), respectively. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding to the survival time (WMD: 17.85, 95% CI: −8.79, 44.49, P = 0.189). Moreover, the levels of anxiety, depression, confusion, pain, and suffering were lowered in psychotherapy group (all P < 0.05).

Significance of results

Psychotherapy could improve the QOL of advanced cancer patients but not affect the survival time.

Keywords

Advanced cancerPsychotherapyQuality of lifeSurvival time
Type
Review Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , April 2023 , pp. 301 - 307
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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