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Digital Interventions and Mental Health Outcomes in Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Zixuan Wu1, Feifei Luo2, Siyuan Wang2
1Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
JMIR Cancer
|August 14, 2025
Summary
Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) show no overall effect on cancer patient anxiety or depression. However, shorter interventions effectively reduce anxiety, and 1-2 month interventions reduce depression, suggesting duration-tailored approaches may be beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychiatry
- Digital Health
Background:
- Rising cancer incidence increases psychiatric and psychosocial burdens.
- 35-40% of cancer patients experience diagnosable psychiatric disorders.
- Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer potential but require optimized implementation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize DMHIs for cancer patients' mental health.
- Quantify DMHI effectiveness on anxiety and depression.
- Examine intervention duration and stakeholder involvement as moderators of outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
- Searched 8 databases for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Assessed risk of bias and performed random-effects meta-analyses; subgroup analyses explored moderators.
Main Results:
- 22 RCTs included; 12 in meta-analysis. Overall DMHIs showed nonsignificant effects on depression (SMD -0.48) and anxiety (SMD -0.61) with high heterogeneity.
- Interventions <1 month significantly reduced anxiety (SMD -0.73).
- Interventions 1-2 months significantly reduced depression (SMD -0.18). No significant differences based on stakeholder involvement.
Conclusions:
- DMHIs may be more effective within personalized care models than as standalone treatments.
- Duration-tailored digital interventions show potential benefits for anxiety and depression in cancer patients.
- Further research needed on standardized outcomes and duration-dependent efficacy mechanisms.
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