Publication
Effectiveness of psychological interventions for children eligible for pediatric palliative care: systematic review and meta-analysis
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, Torres-Castano A, Perestelo-Perez L · BMC pediatrics · 2026
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.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.