A systematic review of psychosocial interventions for men with prostate cancer and their partners

To systematically review interventions aiming to improve adjustment in men with prostate cancer and their partners.

Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were: randomized controlled trials; relevant to specified clinical questions; included men who had prostate cancer (at least 80% prostate cancer patients or prostate cancer sub-group analysis); published in English between December 1999 and December 2009. Trial quality was assessed.

21 studies met inclusion criteria. Trial quality was low; had not improved over the study timeframe; men with advanced disease were not targeted; minority groups were seldom included. Group cognitive-behavioral and psycho-education interventions appear helpful in promoting better psychological adjustment and QOL for men with prostate cancer; coping skills training for patient-spouse dyads improved QOL for partners.

There are limitations in the research on effective ways to improve adjustment for men with prostate cancer of any stage and their partners; and scant research targeting minority groups and the concerns of men with advanced disease.

Interventions for men with advanced prostate cancer could usefully target the implications of advancing disease and caregiver burden. There is an urgent need for researchers to focus efforts specifically on such men and their families.