Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29744965›Full record

SynthesisPsycho-oncology2018

Mind-body interventions for fear of cancer recurrence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Daniel L Hall, Christina M Luberto, Lisa L Philpotts, Rhayun Song, Elyse R Park, Gloria Y Yeh

Open access · greenAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psycho-oncology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 89 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
89citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
9.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

89 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 156 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Mind-body interventions for cancer-related dyspnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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  12. Effect of Psychological Intervention on Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · 2019
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  13. Systematic review of interventions by non-mental health specialists for managing fear of cancer recurrence in adult cancer survivors.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2019
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29 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Daniel L HallMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4069-5324
Christina M LubertoMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Lisa L PhilpottsTreadwell Library, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-3438-153X
Rhayun SongCollege of Nursing, Chungnam National University, South Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-9461-4246
Elyse R ParkMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Gloria Y YehBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · USHarvard University · USBoston Public Library · USChungnam National University · KR

Funding

Research Training in Complementary and Integrative MedicineT32AT000051 · NCCIH · HARVARD UNIVERSITY (MEDICAL SCHOOL) · PI GLORIA Y YEH · 1999 to 2026
$10.2M
Mentoring and Patient-Oriented Research in Mind-Body ExerciseK24AT009465 · NCCIH · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · PI GLORIA Y YEH · 2017 to 2026
$1.3M
Examining Delivery of Integrated Tobacco Treatment in Cancer CareK24CA197382 · NCI · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI PARK, ELYSE R. · 2015 to 2019
$841k
NCCIH NIH HHS K24 AT009465NCCIH NIH HHS K24AT009465NCCIH NIH HHS T32 AT000051NCCIH NIH HHS T32AT000051NCI NIH HHS K24 CA197382NCI NIH HHS K24CA197382
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveFear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common existential concern and source of distress among adults with a cancer history. Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined mind-body approaches to mitigating FCR. We summarized characteristics of these trials and calculated their pooled effects on decreasing FCR.

methodsSix electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to May 2017, using a strategy that included multiple terms for RCTs, cancer, mind-body medicine, and FCR. Data extraction and reporting followed Cochrane and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Pooled effect sizes on self-report measures of FCR were computed by using random-effects models.

resultsNineteen RCTs (pooled N = 2806) were included. Most studies (53%) were published since 2015 and targeted a single cancer type (84%; mostly breast). Intervention sessions (median = 6, mode = 4) tended to last 120 minutes and occur across 1.5 months. Delivery was predominantly in-person (63%) to either groups (42%) or individuals (42%). Most interventions incorporated multiple mind-body components (53%), commonly cognitive-behavioral skills (58%), or meditative practices (53%). Small-to-medium pooled effect sizes were observed postintervention (Hedges' g = -0.36, 95% CI = -0.49, -0.23, P < .001) and at follow-up assessments (median = 8 months, P < .001). Potential modifiers (control group design, group/individual delivery, use of cognitive-behavioral or mindfulness skills, number of mind-body components, cancer treatment status, and number of sessions) did not reach statistical significance.

conclusionsMind-body interventions are efficacious for reducing FCR, with small-to-medium effect sizes that persist after intervention delivery ends. Recommendations include testing effects among survivors of various cancers and exploring the optimal integration of mind-body practices for managing fundamental uncertainties and fears during cancer survivorship.

Indexed as

AdultCancer SurvivorsFearHumansMind-Body TherapiesNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalNeoplasmsPhobic Disorderscancerfearmeta-analysismind-bodyoncologysystematic review

Identifiers

PMID29744965
PMCPMC6488231
OpenAlexW2800776882

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.