Effectiveness of psychological interventions for children eligible for pediatric palliative care: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Forfatter(e)
- Alvarez-Perez, Y., Duarte-Diaz, A., Rivero-Santana, A., Abrante-Luis, A., Carreras, B., Infante-Ventura, D., Ramos-Garcia, V., Herrera-Ramos, E., Marrero Gomez, J. L., Torres-Castano, A., Perestelo-Perez, L.
- År
- 2026
- Tidsskrift
- BMC Pediatrics
- Volum
- 26
- Sider
- 05
- Kategori(er)
- Angst og engstelighet (inkl. både vansker og lidelse) Depresjon og nedstemthet (inkl. både vansker og lidelse) Livskvalitet og trivselSelvfølelse og selvtillit Somatisk sykdom (inkl. smertetilstander) Utmattelsestilstander (inkl. ME og fatigue)
- Tiltakstype(r)
- FamilieterapiKognitiv atferdsterapi, atferdsterapi og kognitiv terapiAvspenningstiltak (dyreterapi eller avspenning knyttet til medisinske prosedyrer)
- Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pediatric palliative care (PPC) provides holistic and family-centered support that extends beyond end-of-life care. Children living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions frequently experience significant emotional distress, psychosocial burden, and symptom related challenges. Early access to psychological interventions may help address their complex needs and enhance overall well-being. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the evidence on psychological interventions delivered to children eligible for PPC.
METHODS
Five electronic databases were searched for randomized-controlled trials including children (< 18 years) eligible for PPC who received a psychological intervention were included. Eligible studies reported quantitative outcomes related to psychological symptoms. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB-2) and meta-analyses were conducted when at least two trials reported comparable outcomes for post-treatment.
RESULTS
Thirty studies met inclusion criteria, focusing on children with cancer (25 studies), sickle cell disease (4 studies), or cystic fibrosis (1 study). Most psychological interventions were cognitive-behavioral approaches. The results of the meta-analysis were associated with significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety (p < 0.00001) and depression (p < 0.005). Significant improvements were also observed in physical outcomes, such as overall pain intensity (p = 0.0003). In addition, psychological interventions significantly reduced distress, anxiety, and pain associated with invasive medical procedures (p < 0.00001). Although heterogeneity across studies was moderate to high, most interventions demonstrated beneficial effects, particularly those incorporating cognitive-behavioral and coping-based strategies.
CONCLUSIONS
The available evidence suggests that psychological interventions, especially those grounded in cognitive-behavioral approaches, may offer meaningful benefits for children eligible for PPC, improving emotional well-being and reducing symptom burden. Integrating such interventions into routine PPC could enhance comprehensive care. Further high-quality trials across a wider range of life-limiting conditions are needed to expand the evidence base and strengthen clinical implementation.
CLINICAL REGISTRATION
This study is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024594171).