SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2000
Psychological therapies for sickle cell disease and pain.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2000. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Psychological interventions for parents of children and adolescents with chronic illness.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- Psychological therapies for sickle cell disease and pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015Pooled it
- Challenges and Strategies: Nationwide Data Collection for an Internet-based Guided Relaxation Intervention in Sickle Cell Disease.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses · 2025Trial
- Patient Experiences of Acute Pain Communication in Sickle Cell Disease and Perspectives on Improving Clinician Communication.Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings · 2026Article
- Barriers and facilitators to implementing a task-sharing mental health intervention for Sickle Cell Disease populations in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Sickle Cell Disease: A Review of Nonpharmacological Approaches for Pain.Journal of pain and symptom management · 2016Review
Corrections and comments
- Updated by
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSickle cell disease comprises of a group of genetic blood disorders, and occurs when the sickle cell haemoglobin gene is inherited from both parents. The effects of the condition are: varying degrees of anaemia which if severe reduce the capacity for mobility; predisposition to obstruction of small blood capillaries causing pain in muscle and bone known as "crises"; damage to major organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs; and increased vulnerability to severe infections. There are both medical and non-medical complications, and treatment is usually symptomatic and palliative in nature. Psychological intervention for individuals with sickle cell disease seems viable in complementing current medical treatment, and studies examining their efficacy appear to have also yielded encouraging results.
objectivesTo examine the evidence that in patients with sickle cell disease, psychological treatment improves the ability to cope with the condition. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group specialist trials register which comprises references from comprehensive electronic database searches, handsearching relevant journals and handsearching abstract books of conference proceedings. Also, searches on the Internet were performed. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing the use of psychological intervention to no (psychological) intervention in patients with sickle cell disease. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The following outcomes were assessed: pain, mood, coping, health service utilisation, general health, quality of life, and life satisfaction. MAIN
resultsFour trials which reported results were all found to be unsuitable for inclusion at the present time, owing to incomplete data in the published papers. REVIEWER'S
conclusionsPsychological approaches are commonly used in an attempt to improve coping ability in patients with sickle cell disease. No conclusions can be made about the use of specific psychological therapies in sickle cell disease from the information currently available. This systematic review has clearly identified the need for well designed, adequately-powered, multicentre, RCTs assessing the effectiveness of specific interventions in sickle cell disease.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.