Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and one meta-analysis were identified.
Specific interventions included in the review
Nonbehavioural counselling or psychotherapy, provided by specialist nurses and/or clinical psychologists and liaison psychiatrists.
Participants included in the review
Adult breast cancer patients. The trials reviewed included newly-diagnosed early stage breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy, and in one trial, systemic chemotherapy. The meta-analysis included adult cancer patients with cancers at various sites, and included studies on patients receiving radiation therapy.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcomes assessed in the studies included general health, insomnia, psychological symptoms and psychological morbidity, coping strategies, adjustment to the disease, social dysfunction, somatic symptoms, body image distress, sexual difficulties, physical symptoms, quality of life and medical measures (e.g. leukocyte activity). The follow-up period ranged from the post-operative clinic visit to 12 months.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection. [A:Assessment by 2 authors].