Psychosocial interventions for advanced cancer patients: A systematic review

Psychosocial care for advanced cancer encompasses a wide range of interventions that help patients make life-changing decisions, manage debilitating symptoms, confront impending mortality, and improve other patient outcomes. Psychosocial care is becoming increasingly available to advanced cancer patients; however, an overview of the various types of interventions is lacking.

The current review systematically examined randomised-controlled trials of psychosocial interventions for advanced cancer patients from January 2007 to June 2018. MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases were searched, and a total of 68 studies were included in the review.

We found a range of psychosocial interventions studies and grouped them based on six theoretical/clinical approaches: cognitive behavioural therapy based; meaning enhancing; dignity, life review, and narrative; other counselling; education only; and music, writing, and others. The different psychosocial interventions had significantly varied characteristics (eg, format, duration, and resources used) to address issues faced by advanced cancer patients. There is compelling evidence for the use of meaning-centred psychotherapy to improve meaning and quality of life and use of question prompt lists and communication skills training to improve communication with health care providers.

Some psychosocial interventions are further along in establishing evidence for effectiveness. Our findings demonstrate a growing capacity within the field to meet the psychosocial needs of advanced cancer patients. Lessons and direction in clinical practice and future research endeavours are discussed.