Newell, S.A., Sanson-Fisher, R.W., & Savolainen, N.J. (2002). Systematic review of psychological therapies for cancer patients: Overview and recommendations for future research. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 94, 558–584.
DOI Link
Search Strategy
The study involved searches of the MEDLINE, Healthplan, PsychLIT, and Allied and Complementary Medicine databases. The articles included were published prior to December 1998.
Literature Evaluated
The study consisted of a critical review of psychological therapies used by patients with cancer. Authors identified 627 relevant articles reporting 329 intervention trials. Authors identified 11 papers discussing 15 trials of fair quality and exploring interventions aimed at reducing depression.
Limitations
Despite increased use of RCT designs, the methodological quality was generally suboptimal.
Nursing Implications
No intervention can be recommended for depression reduction, but interventions involving group therapy, education, structured counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), communication-skills training, and self-esteem building warrant further exploration before recommendations can be made.