Efficacy of Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Depression and Anxiety in Individuals With Cancer: A Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) are widely used to reduce anxiety and depression in adults with cancer, but their effects have rarely been examined within a single analytical framework. We conducted a stratified subgroup meta‐analysis of 96 randomized controlled trials involving 14,937 adults with cancer. Random‐effects models estimated standardized mean differences (SMDs), with subgroup and meta‐regression analyses examining potential moderators. Overall, CBT and MBIs significantly reduced psychological symptoms (SMD = −0.80). Effects were numerically larger for CBT (SMD = −0.99) than for MBIs (SMD = −0.58), although small‐study effects were detected for CBT. CBT showed a numerically larger effect for depression, whereas MBIs showed a slightly larger effect for anxiety, but these differences were not statistically significant. Benefits persisted at follow‐up but decreased over time. Effects also varied by delivery format, with larger estimates for individual CBT and digital MBIs. Substantial heterogeneity was present across analyses. Overall, both interventions improved psychological outcomes, but differences between interventions and subgroups require cautious interpretation because of substantial heterogeneity and potential small‐study bias.