Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41463152›Full record

ReviewCancers2025

Prevalence of Personality Disorders in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Literature Review in the Era of Personalized Cancer Care.

Paola Arnaboldi, Ilaria Massari, Elisabetta Lombardi, Marco Cavallo

Registry-linked trialAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07481890 (Feasibility and Efficacy of an EMDR Psychotherapeutic Intervention With Additional Procedures), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT07481890 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Feasibility and Efficacy of an EMDR Psychotherapeutic Intervention With Additional Procedures (EMDR Toolbox Method) in Improving the Psychological Well-Being of Patients Diagnosed With Oncological Disease: A Randomized Study.

TypeinterventionalSponsorLega Cancro TicinoRan2026 to 2027Enrolled46ConditionsCancer, Psychological DistressArmsSTANDARD EMDR, EMDR TOOLBOX METHOD
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

4 authors.

Paola ArnaboldiDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060 Novedrate, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6977-4125
Ilaria MassariMedical Psychiatry and Medical Psychology Service, Via Tesserete 67, 6942 Savosa, Switzerland.
Elisabetta LombardiDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060 Novedrate, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8930-8770
Marco CavalloDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060 Novedrate, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4784-0803

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPsychosocial oncology research has largely focused on DSM Axis I disorders such as depression and anxiety, while broader psychological dimensions-particularly personality functioning-have received limited attention. In the context of long-term survivorship and chronic cancer care, understanding personality disorders (PDs) is increasingly important.

objectiveThis systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence of PDs in adults with cancer based on studies using DSM or ICD diagnostic frameworks.

methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched major electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) for studies published over the past 45 years that reported PD prevalence in individuals with cancer. Eligible studies employed DSM or ICD criteria for diagnosing PDs. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessments were conducted independently by multiple reviewers. Extracted data included study design, sample characteristics, diagnostic tools, and PD prevalence.

resultsSeven studies met the inclusion criteria. Reported prevalence estimates varied widely, ranging from 1.4% to 100%. Most studies were characterized by small sample sizes, cross-sectional designs, and a primary focus on breast cancer populations; only one study included a broader cancer cohort. Study quality was generally low to moderate. A major limitation across studies was the use of unvalidated or non-standardized diagnostic instruments, along with limited methodological detail and heterogeneity in assessment approaches, preventing meaningful pooling of results.

conclusionsThe findings reveal a substantial lack of high-quality research examining personality disorders in oncology settings. Robust, methodologically rigorous studies using validated diagnostic tools are urgently needed to clarify the prevalence and clinical relevance of PDs in cancer populations and to inform the development of comprehensive, patient-centered psychosocial care models.

Indexed as

cancerpersonality disordersprevalencepsycho-oncology

Identifiers

PMID41463152
PMCPMC12730817

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.