Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory
Annual Review of Psychology September 14, 2022 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-psych-032620-031757 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | acceptance-based and mindfulness therapies mind-body therapies meaning-based approaches psychedelic therapy |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Psychosocial Psychotherapist Distress Disease Integrative medicine Psycho-oncology Clinical psychology Alternative medicine |
| Citations | 50 |
| Key findings | Psychosocial and integrative oncology interventions, including mindfulness, mind-body, and meaning-based therapies, target common cancer-related symptoms, but the evidence base has methodological shortcomings that future pragmatic and digital health research should address. |
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the fields of psychosocial and integrative oncology, highlighting common psychological reactions to being diagnosed with and treated for cancer, including distress, anxiety, depression, fear of cancer recurrence and caregiver burden, as well as symptoms of fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance. Patterns of symptomatology across the disease continuum are also discussed. Interventions targeted at treating these symptoms are reviewed, including acceptance-based and mindfulness therapies, mind-body therapies, and meaning-based approaches designed for people with advanced stages of disease, including psychedelic therapy. Common methodological issues and shortcomings of the evidence base are summarized with design recommendations, and a discussion of trends in future research including pragmatic research design, digital health interventions, and implementation science completes the article.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review General (healthcare, schools, workplace) | 2021 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology | 2018 | Review | |
| Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Challenges and Strategies | 2020 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- A feasibility study of a tailored mindfulness-based group intervention for psychological distress and adjustment for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant outpatients. BMC cancer July 14, 2025
- Mind-Body Interventions for People With Cancer: Evidence, Innovation, and Implementation. Seminars in radiation oncology July 1, 2026
- The CAnadian Network for Psychedelic-Assisted Cancer Therapy (CAN-PACT): A Multi-Phase Program Overview. Current Oncology December 22, 2025
- Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Sleep, Fatigue, and Pain in Distressed People After Cancer Treatment: A Partially Randomized Patient-Preference Comparative Effectiveness Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology September 16, 2026
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Meditation on the Immune Function of Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 1, 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 7
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
- Mindfulness‐based interventions for psychological and physical health outcomes in cancer patients and survivors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Psycho-Oncology September 11, 2019
- Acute and Sustained Reductions in Loss of Meaning and Suicidal Ideation Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Life-Threatening Cancer ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science March 18, 2021
and 2 more in the library