Systematic review of studies of psychosocial interventions for patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery

Psychosocial interventions may address the psychosocial challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Limited research exists on their effectiveness for patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery. A systematic review of published studies summarized existing evidence for these patients. In five electronic databases, the authors identified 27 randomized controlled trials published between 2005 and 2024, with number of randomized participants ranging from 34 to 336. Interventions varied by therapeutic modality: education (n=4), behavioral training (n=4), psychotherapy (n=4), emotional support (n=2), education plus emotional support (n=9), and other multimodal strategies (n=4). Among the studies that assessed impact on quality of life, anxiety, and/or depression, significant improvements were reported in quality of life (9/16; 56.3%), anxiety (12/16; 75%), and depression (8/12; 66.7%). The authors conclude that psychosocial interventions may improve quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery. Further research is needed to identify the most effective intervention components and target subpopulations.