Psychological interventions for pain control in oncology and rheumatic comorbidities: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Xiaoru Li * Endocrine Department, Luxu Central Health Center, Suzhou 215200, China
  • Lin Zhao Rheumatology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215009, China
  • Donglin Hao Rheumatology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215009, China
  • Weijue Nie Rheumatology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215009, China
  • Jingjing Yao Endocrine Department, Luxu Central Health Center, Suzhou 215200, China
  • Qiuhong Liu Endocrine Department, Luxu Central Health Center, Suzhou 215200, China
Article ID: 4584
69 Views
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18282/po4584
Keywords: cancer pain; meta-analysis; non-pharmacologic therapy; psychological interventions; systematic review

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cancer-related pain significantly impacts patients› quality of life, and conventional pharmacologic treatments often have limitations. Psychological and non-pharmacologic interventions are increasingly recognized as complementary approaches, but their efficacy remains heterogeneous. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions for pain control in oncology, including patients with comorbid rheumatologic conditions. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and other databases up to 8 June 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing psychological (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBT], mindfulness) and non-pharmacologic (e.g., acupuncture, music therapy) interventions for adult cancer patients with pain were included. The primary outcome was pain intensity; secondary outcomes included distress and quality of life. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane ROB 1. Data were pooled via random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Ten RCTs (n = 1074 participants) were analyzed. Psychological interventions (e.g., mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) showed moderate pain reduction (standardized mean difference
[SMD] = 0.61). Non-pharmacologic therapies, such as music therapy (p < 0.001) and progressive muscle relaxation (p < 0.0001), were also effective. Joint pain in cancer-rheumatism patients demonstrated significant improvement (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.23–2.29), with minimal heterogeneity (I² = 1%). Pantalgia interventions yielded consistent benefits
(OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.33–3.84). Heterogeneity was high for tumor pain (I² = 84%), suggesting variability by intervention type and cancer stage. Conclusions: Psychological and non-pharmacologic interventions significantly alleviate cancer-related pain, particularly for joint pain and pantalgia. Tailored approaches, such as structured CBT or mindfulness, are recommended based on pain type and patient characteristics. These findings support integrating multimodal strategies into comprehensive pain management for oncology patients, including those with rheumatologic comorbidities.

Published
2025-12-26
How to Cite
Li, X., Zhao, L., Hao, D., Nie, W., Yao, J., & Liu, Q. (2025). Psychological interventions for pain control in oncology and rheumatic comorbidities: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncologie, 19(4), 4584. https://doi.org/10.18282/po4584
Issue
Vol. 19 No. 4 (2025)
Section
Review

Copyright (c) 2025 Lin Zhao, Donglin Hao, Weijue Nie, Jingjing Yao, Qiuhong Liu , Xiaoru Li

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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