Who Benefits from Psychosocial Interventions in Oncology? A Systematic Review of Psychological Moderators of Treatment Outcome
Date
2012-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Medical and demographic characteristics and
psychological morbidity of individuals with cancer prior to
a psychosocial intervention can influence the efficacy of
interventions. However, little is known about the moderating
role of patients’ psychosocial characteristics on
intervention effects. This review sought to identify and
synthesize the impacts of psychosocial moderators of the
effect of psychosocial interventions on the psychological
well-being of cancer patients. A systematic review of the
published literature was conducted. Databases searched
included PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL,
Web of Science, and Psychology and Behavioural
Sciences Collection. Randomized controlled studies
examining a moderator effect of patients’ psychosocial
characteristics other than baseline depression and anxiety
levels were included. Of 199 potential papers, a total of 20
studies, involving 3,340 heterogeneous cancer patients are
included. Of the 17 potential psychosocial moderators
examined in this review, 14 significantly moderated the
effects of interventions. Moderators were categorized into
personality traits, mental and physical quality of life, social
environment, and self-efficacy. Patients with poorer quality
of life, interpersonal relationships and sense of control
benefitted more from interventions than those who already
had adequate resources. Patients with low levels of optimism
and neuroticism, high levels of emotional expressiveness,
interpersonal sensitivity, and dispositional
hypnotizability also showed greater benefits from various
interventions. This review adds to the growing literature
aimed at personalizing psychosocial cancer treatment by
identifying who benefits from which psychosocial interventions.
Description
Keywords
cancer, psychosocial intervention
Citation
Tamagawa, R., Garland, S., Vaska, M., and Carlson, E. (2012). Who benefits from psychosocial interventions in oncology? A systematic review of psychological moderators of treatment outcome. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 35(6), 658-673.