Psychosocial interventions as part of breast cancer rehabilitation programs? Results from a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and social support interventions used in the rehabilitation of breast cancer (BC) patients.


METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature search to identify randomised controlled trials of female BC patients who underwent different psychosocial interventions during or after primary cancer treatment. The methodological quality of all studies was independently assessed by two reviewers. Studies with low quality, less than 20 participants in each group, patients with metastatic cancer, data not presented separately for BC and studies that included other cancer types were excluded.


RESULTS
Among 9617 identified studies, only 18 RCTs published between 1999 and 2008, including 3272 patients were finally included in this systematic evaluation. Outcome measures were categorised into quality of life (QoL), fatigue, mood, health behaviour and social function. Six trials examined psychoeducation had inconsistent results, both during and after the primary treatment. Seven trials examined the effect of CBT, four of which given after primary treatment (range 6-12 weeks) demonstrated improvements in QoL; the other three CBT studies given during primary treatment (range 9-20 weeks) had inconsistencies. Five studies addressed social support and showed no conclusive impacts of this intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Limited documentation exists on the efficacy of psychosocial rehabilitation interventions among BC patients. However, we found that patients might have QoL benefits from CBT given after primary BC treatment. More documentation is needed regarding the effects of CBT during primary treatment and the effects of psychoeducation and social support.
Fors
Egil A
EA
Department of Psychiatry, St Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. eafors@online.no
Bertheussen
Gro F
GF
Thune
Inger
I
Juvet
Lene K
LK
Elvsaas
Ida-Kristin Ø
IK
Oldervoll
Line
L
Anker
Gun
G
Falkmer
Ursula
U
Lundgren
Steinar
S
Leivseth
Gunnar
G
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support