Impact of psychosocial interventions on cancer survival: an updated meta-analysis
Victoria McCarvell, Emma McCurdy-Franks, Saverio Caini, Chiara Doccioli, Gary Rodin, Cassidy MacNaughton, Shirley Tse, Edward Chow, Henry C Y WongAbstract
Background
Psychosocial interventions are known to improve emotional well-being and quality of life in patients with cancer, but their effects on overall survival (OS) remain unclear. An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed.
Methods
A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL from database inception until December 2025. Randomized controlled trials comparing OS between patients receiving psychosocial interventions and control groups were included. Study characteristics and summary hazard ratios (SHR) were extracted. If SHRs were not provided, they were derived from Kaplan-Meier curves. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model.
Results
Of 20365 studies identified, 24 RCTs involving 4795 patients met inclusion criteria. Follow-up time ranged from 1 to 18 years. Patients treated with psychosocial interventions had better overall survival outcomes than those in the control groups (SHR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; I² = 45%). Subgroup analyses showed improved OS among studies involving patients treated with curative intent (12 studies; SHR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64–0.87; I² = 20.9%), studies involving colorectal primary cancers (2 studies; SHR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48–0.99; I² = 0%), and intervention duration ≥ 12 months (N = 13, SHR = 0.85, CI: 0.72-0.99, I2 = 46.8%).
Conclusions
Adult patients with cancer who were offered psychosocial interventions may have improved OS. Given the moderate heterogeneity in our analysis, an individual patient-level meta-analysis may help identify characteristics of patients who benefit from these interventions.