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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 4/2007

Open Access 01-08-2007 | Research article

The effect of psychosocial factors on breast cancer outcome: a systematic review

Authors: Matthew E Falagas, Effie A Zarkadoulia, Eleni N Ioannidou, George Peppas, Christos Christodoulou, Petros I Rafailidis

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 4/2007

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Abstract

Introduction

We sought to review the available evidence regarding the effect of psychosocial factors on the survival of breast cancer patients.

Methods

We systematically searched the PubMed and PsycINFO databases to identify relevant studies.

Results

We identified 31 studies examining the association of various psychosocial parameters with overall breast cancer survival/disease free survival and 6 studies examining whether psychological intervention influences the disease outcome. Of the 31 studies summarized in this overview, 25 (80.6%) showed a statistically significant association between at least one psychosocial variable and disease outcome. Parameters associated with better breast cancer prognosis are social support, marriage, and minimizing and denial, while depression and constraint of emotions are associated with decreased breast cancer survival; however, the role of these factors has not been verified in all studies.

Conclusion

Most of the studies show a significant relationship between psychosocial factors and survival, but the actual psychosocial variables related to survival are not consistently measured across studies and the findings for many of the psychosocial variables with survival/recurrence are not consistent across studies. Thus, more research is warranted regarding the role of social support, marriage, minimizing and denial, depression and constraint of emotions on breast cancer survival.
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Metadata
Title
The effect of psychosocial factors on breast cancer outcome: a systematic review
Authors
Matthew E Falagas
Effie A Zarkadoulia
Eleni N Ioannidou
George Peppas
Christos Christodoulou
Petros I Rafailidis
Publication date
01-08-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 4/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr1744

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