ESMO Congress 2023 | OncologyPRO

Abstract 1853P

Background

Frankl's Logotherapy is a psychotherapeutic approach aimed at finding meaning in life. Although the incidence of death anxiety, existential loneliness, and depression in cancer patients is high, the efficacy of Logotherapy in this population is not well established.

Methods

Two independent investigators searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to March 2023. We systematically reviewed, according to PRISMA guidelines, controlled clinical trials evaluating the use of Logotherapy in cancer anxiety symptoms. We performed a pooled analysis on anxiety scores of patients that underwent group Logotherapy sessions vs. non-exposed control groups.

Results

We included seven studies, four randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and three quasi-experimental, comprising 280 patients, published between 1977 and 2023. A total of 139 patients (49.6%) had sessions of Logotherapy, and ages ranged from 18 to more than 68 years. Total treatment duration ranged between 360 and 1200 minutes. The Standard Mean Difference (SMD) for anxiety symptoms was -1.63 (95% CI = [-2.65, -0.61]; z = 3.12; P = 0.002; I² = 92%) in patients who underwent Logotherapy compared to non-exposed control groups. In a subgroup analysis including only RCTs, a similar effect was observed with an SMD of -0.64 (95% CI = [-1.72, 0.44]; z = 1.16; P = 0.25; I² = 91%).

Conclusions

Despite limited evidence, Logotherapy group sessions were associated with a reduction in anxiety scores of adult patients with cancer when compared to inactive control groups.