Psychological therapies improved mental health scores in breast cancer trials
A pooled analysis found better anxiety, depression, and quality-of-life scores with cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies, used separately or together.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Across the included trials, cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies improved anxiety, depression, and quality-of-life scores compared with control conditions. The review reported larger anxiety and depression effects for mindfulness-based therapy. That comparison needs caution because the abstract does not explain whether it came from direct comparisons between therapies or comparisons across studies.
The abstract omits participant totals, assessment timing, and trial-quality findings. Standardized score differences do not reveal how many patients improved meaningfully or whether benefits persisted.
What researchers found
Lower anxiety scores with mindfulness-based therapy
Versus controls such as usual care or waiting lists; assessment timing was not reported.
What the abstract pooled
Researchers pooled anxiety, depression, and quality-of-life scores. Standardized mean differences let results from different measures be combined; negative anxiety values favor therapy here, but they are not percentage improvements.
Differences between study settings
The abstract also reports stronger effects with group delivery and longer interventions, plus differences by delivery format and ethnicity. These findings do not establish which approach would work best for an individual patient.
The original publication
Cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies for mental health and quality of life of breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Su R, Wang R, Li Z et al.
Int J Clin Oncol · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40921953
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.