Psychological distress and interventions in oncology palliative care: An integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69849/4khyrn67Keywords:
Palliative Care, Cancer, PsychologyAbstract
Cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represents a major public health challenge. Beyond its physical repercussions, the disease may generate emotional and psychological distress, often exacerbated by stigma, prognostic uncertainty, and the demands of treatment. In this context, palliative care plays a central role in promoting relief from suffering and improving quality of life by addressing physical, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions of care.
This study aimed to analyze how psychological interventions have been applied in oncological care. It is an integrative review of a descriptive nature with a qualitative approach. Searches were conducted in the SciELO and LILACS databases via BVS, as well as MEDLINE via PubMed, using descriptors in Portuguese (DeCS) and English, such as “Psychology,” “Palliative Care,” and “Cancer,” combined using the Boolean operator “AND.” Studies published between 2020 and 2025 were considered. Full-text articles that met the eligibility criteria were included, while studies addressing other health conditions or non-psychological interventions were excluded.
After screening and analysis, eight studies were included. The results indicated a diversity of strategies, with emphasis on mindfulness-based interventions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, meaning-centered psychotherapies, and expressive resources, which were associated with outcomes such as reductions in depressive symptoms, stress, fatigue, and existential distress, as well as improvements in well-being and emotional functioning.
It is concluded that psychological interventions contribute to more comprehensive care in palliative oncology, promoting biopsychosocial and existential support and improving patients’ quality of life.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Caio Pereira de Sousa, Aline Martins Diolindo Meneses, Valdelice Juliane Alves Caribé, Lavínia Diolindo Meneses, Sabrina Andrade Silva, Karla Joelma Bezerra Cunha, Ivoneide Pereira de Alencar, Samara Gilvana Chaves Santos de Andrade (Autor)
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