Table 3. Excluded studies (n=22).

Reason for exclusion	Studies
Less than 50% of patients with advanced cancer	Decker et al (1992), Syrjala et al (1995), Johansson et al (1999), Oyama et al (2000), Carlson et al (2001), Lordick et al (2002) and Walker et al (1999a, b)
No controlled study design	Greer et al, 1991; Eysenck and Grossarth-Maticek, 1991; Bottomley, 1996; de Vries et al, 1997; Greer and Moorey, 1997; Cwikel and Behar, 1999; Gallagher and Steele, 2001)
Intervention not strictly psychosocial	Siegel et al (1992), Wilkinson et al (1999) and Ringdal et al (2001)
No QoL-related outcome measure	Sloman et al (1994) and Bruera et al (1999)
Comparison group other than usual care	Mantovani et al (1996) and Liossi and White (2001)

QoL=quality of life.