A meta-analysis of the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy on quality of life and psychological health of breast cancer survivors and patients

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) on Quality of Life (QOL) and psychological health of breast cancer survivors and patients.

Methods

A total of 1289 references were examined from an overall literature search in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of CBT compared with a range of comparators in cancer survivors. We assessed the effect of CBT using the standardized mean difference as effect size.

Results

Among 1289 abstracts and 292 full-text articles reviewed, 10 studies were included. At the post-treatment period, the pooled effect size for CBT on QOL was 0.57 (95% CI, 0.44 to 0.69; P <0.001), on depression was -1.11 (95% CI, -1.28 to -0.94; P <0.001), on stress was -0.40 (95% CI, -0.53 to -0.26; P <0.001), on anxiety was -1.10 (95% CI, -1.27 to -0.93; P <0.001), and on hyperarousal cluster of symptoms was-0.18 (95% CI, -0.30 to -0.05; P <0.001). The QOL was considered statistically medium effect sizes. The depression and anxiety were considered statistically large effect sizes.

Conclusions

CBT is an effective therapy for psychological symptoms of cancer survivors and patients, with meaningfully clinical effect sizes. These findings suggested that CBT should be used as the intervention for breast cancer survivors and patients when possible.

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