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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Cancers

Psychosocial Interventions in Cancer Survivorship: A Rapid Scoping Review of the Recent PubMed-Indexed Literature

  • Anita Müller1,2,3
  • Selma Barbot4
  • Morgan Dondin1,2,3
  • Clotilde Potez5,6
  • Sylvie Dolbeault1,2,7
  • Anne Brédart1,2,3
  • Maria Die Trill8
  • Bernhard Holzner9
9 affiliations
  1. 1Psycho-Oncology Unit, Supportive Care Department, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
  2. 2Social Sciences and Humanities, and Outcome Research (SHARE Team), Translational Research Department, PSL Research University, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
  3. 3Psychopathology and Health Process Laboratory UR4057 ED 261, Psychology Institute, Paris City University, 92774 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
  4. 4VCR, Ecole de Psychologues Praticiens de L’institut Catholique de Paris—Équipe D’accueil Religion, Culture et Société, 75006 Paris, France
  5. 5ER IPC-Facultés Libres de Philosophie et de Psychologie, 70 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
  6. 6Laboratoire Psychopathologie et Processus de Changement, EA 2027, Université Paris 8, 2 Rue de la Liberté, 93200 Saint-Denis, France
  7. 7Research Centre in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), INSERM U1018, Paris Saclay University, 94800 Villejuif, France
  8. 8Psycho Oncology Unit, Madrid Site Cancer Center, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 28027 Madrid, Spain
  9. 9University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: In recent years, the number of cancer survivors has increased. Psychological difficulties or disorders are frequent during survivorship (e.g., fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety, depression, and insomnia). Various interventions have been developed to address survivors’ specific psychosocial needs. This rapid scoping review aimed to define the interventions that have been developed for adult cancer survivors by describing (1) the type of intervention, (2) their measured psychosocial outcome variables, and (3) participants’ main characteristics. Methods: PubMed was searched for articles published between 2020 and 2025. The search strategy combined terms related to cancer survivorship, psychosocial outcomes, and interventions. Titles and abstracts were screened, and data were extracted using a structured form specifying study type, population, intervention, and outcome characteristics. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Results: Out of 1743 screened studies, 80 were included (67 studies, 13 systematic reviews/meta-analyses), representing approximately 7880 cancer survivors (from the n = 67). Nearly 45% of included studies were conducted in the United States, and most interventions were developed for breast cancer survivors (38.8%) or included a majority of female participants. Physical activity (22.39%), psychoeducation (17.9%), and cognitive behavioural therapy (16.4%) were the most common intervention types. About a third incorporated eHealth or telehealth. Two-thirds of studies (65.7%) reported predominantly positive effects on psychosocial outcomes. Few interventions included cultural adaptations and targeted minority or socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Conclusions: Most interventions for cancer survivors targeted breast cancer, female survivors in high-income countries. Developing and implementing culturally adapted and cost-efficient interventions, particularly for underrepresented survivor groups, remains a priority for future research and implementation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{muller2026psychosocial,
  title = {{Psychosocial Interventions in Cancer Survivorship: A Rapid Scoping Review of the Recent PubMed-Indexed Literature}},
  author = {Anita Müller and Selma Barbot and Morgan Dondin and Clotilde Potez and Sylvie Dolbeault and Anne Brédart and Maria Die Trill and Bernhard Holzner},
  journal = {Cancers},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/cancers18203385},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3385},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Psychosocial Interventions in Cancer Survivorship: A Rapid Scoping Review of the Recent PubMed-Indexed Literature
AU  - Anita Müller
AU  - Selma Barbot
AU  - Morgan Dondin
AU  - Clotilde Potez
AU  - Sylvie Dolbeault
AU  - Anne Brédart
AU  - Maria Die Trill
AU  - Bernhard Holzner
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Cancers
DO  - 10.3390/cancers18203385
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3385
AB  - Background/Objectives: In recent years, the number of cancer survivors has increased. Psychological difficulties or disorders are frequent during survivorship (e.g., fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety, depression, and insomnia). Various interventions have been developed to address survivors’ specific psychosocial needs. This rapid scoping review aimed to define the interventions that have been developed for adult cancer survivors by describing (1) the type of intervention, (2) their measured psychosocial outcome variables, and (3) participants’ main characteristics. Methods: PubMed was searched for articles published between 2020 and 2025. The search strategy combined terms related to cancer survivorship, psychosocial outcomes, and interventions. Titles and abstracts were screened, and data were extracted using a structured form specifying study type, population, intervention, and outcome characteristics. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Results: Out of 1743 screened studies, 80 were included (67 studies, 13 systematic reviews/meta-analyses), representing approximately 7880 cancer survivors (from the n = 67). Nearly 45% of included studies were conducted in the United States, and most interventions were developed for breast cancer survivors (38.8%) or included a majority of female participants. Physical activity (22.39%), psychoeducation (17.9%), and cognitive behavioural therapy (16.4%) were the most common intervention types. About a third incorporated eHealth or telehealth. Two-thirds of studies (65.7%) reported predominantly positive effects on psychosocial outcomes. Few interventions included cultural adaptations and targeted minority or socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Conclusions: Most interventions for cancer survivors targeted breast cancer, female survivors in high-income countries. Developing and implementing culturally adapted and cost-efficient interventions, particularly for underrepresented survivor groups, remains a priority for future research and implementation.
SN  - 2072-6694
ER  -