Table 2.
Summary of group studies evaluating psychological interventions for people with brain tumor.
| Reference | Intervention | Design and sample characteristics | n | Intervention outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locke et al. (21) | 12 sessions of cognitive rehabilitation (CR) and problem-solving therapy vs. standard medical care | RCT; mixed grades | 19 | Positive feedback from people with brain tumor and caregivers on the program; 88% used compensation strategies and 88% found the intervention helpful. No significant differences on quality of life (QOL), functional capacity, mood, or fatigue between control and intervention group at 3-month follow-up |
| Gehring et al. (26) | CR (retraining and compensation, six sessions); 3-month telephone-based booster | RCT with waiting list; Grade II and III | 140 | Significant effects at post-treatment for subjective cognitive function and perceived burden; not maintained at 6-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, significant gains on tests of attention and verbal memory and improvements with mental fatigue |
| Hassler et al. (35) | 10 sessions of group cognitive training (attention, verbal, and memory skills) over 12 weeks | Pilot study with no control group; Grade III and IV | 11 | Significant improvement in verbal memory at post-intervention |
| Zucchella et al. (27) | 16 sessions of CR for 4 weeks | RCT; mixed grade | 58 | Significant improvement in cognitive functioning at post-intervention |
| Khan et al. (36) | Individualized social support program: interview plus peer support or community education/counseling | Prospective longitudinal pre-post design; mixed grade | 43 | Significant improvements in psychological functioning, physical QOL, coping strategies, functional, and cognitive independence at 6-week follow-up. Gains in anxiety, stress, and QOL were not maintained at 6-month follow-up, although broader psychosocial gains were maintained long-term |
| Ownsworth et al. (37) | 10 sessions of home-based psychotherapy | RCT with wait list; mixed grade | 50 | Significantly reduced depression and improvements in existential well-being and QOL at post-intervention and 6-month follow-up |