Review: psychoeducational interventions reduce depressive symptoms in cancer
QUESTION: In patients with cancer, are psychoeducational interventions effective for reducing depressive symptoms?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching CINAHL, Medline, PsycLIT, and CancerLit (all from 1980–2000), and by reviewing bibliographies of relevant articles.
Study selection
Scientific studies or systematic reviews of scientific studies (ie, qualitative or quantitative reviews that examined specific hypotheses, used a comprehensive search strategy, and stated explicit conclusions) were selected if they compared a psychoeducational intervention with usual care or an attentional control group, and some level of depression was the measured outcome; practice guidelines based on research were also included. Exclusion criteria included studies of children with cancer, spouses of patients with cancer, and interventions that were not strictly psychoeducational (eg, exercise).
Data extraction
Data were extracted on study setting, …
