Identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13003/11195
Psychological treatments to improve quality of life in cancer contexts: A meta-analysis
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ISSN: 1697-2600
eISSN: 1576-7329
WOS ID: 000375242400010
Scopus EID: 2-s2.0-84940069317
PMID: 30487864
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2016-05Document type
research articleCitation
De La Torre-Luque A, Gambara H, Lopez E, Cruzado JA. Psychological treatments to improve quality of life in cancer contexts: A meta-analysis. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2016 May;16(2):211-9. Epub 2015 Aug 29.Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the effects of psychological treatments on quality of life among cancer patients and survivors. Additionally, it was explored the moderating influence of some medical- and treatment-related features on these effects. Scientific studies published between 1970 and 2012 were analyzed. Seventy-eight studies were included in a meta-analysis. Concerns related to samples, interventions, and standard of methodological evidence were explored across the studies. A significant overall effect size of psychological interventions was revealed (g = .35). Clinical state and use of adjuvant psychological treatment for managing medical side effects moderated this result (p < .05). Furthermore, a meta-regression model was showed significant (R-2 = .30) so as to explain the quality of life change associated with psychological interventions. The psychotherapeutic benefits on depressive symptomatology were included as a moderating factor. To sum up, quality of life is improved by psychological interventions, especially when patients have to cope with medical treatment or with adjustment after the disease is treated. Psychological treatments tend to promote better outcomes when depressive symptomatology is managed. These findings support that providing psychological treatments should be considered as crucial for the patient's health in cancer contexts.