Guided imagery trials report better emotional well-being during cancer care
A review of randomized trials found lower anxiety and depression scores and better quality of life, while leaving practical details and lasting effects uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled trials reported improvements in anxiety, depression and quality of life with guided imagery. Some interventions also included progressive muscle relaxation, so the review covers more than imagery alone. The abstract does not identify the control conditions or assessment timing, which limits how precisely these results can be interpreted.
This brief uses only the abstract. Session length and frequency lack a standardized approach, and the authors call for research on long-term effects. Trial-level bias findings are not provided.
What the review asked
The researchers examined whether guided imagery could improve emotional symptoms and quality of life in adults with cancer. Eligible interventions used imagery either by itself or together with progressive muscle relaxation.
What the outcomes show
Anxiety, depression and quality of life results favored guided imagery, but the outcomes describe psychological well-being. They do not establish an effect on cancer progression, and the abstract does not describe how long improvements lasted.
The original publication
The effectiveness of guided imagery on psychological outcomes and quality of life in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Bozkurt-Duman C, Arici-Türk H, Erbay-Dalli Ö et al.
Support Care Cancer · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41094273
- Record checked
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