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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Aug 1;177(8):790-799.
doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.2168.

Lifetime Burden of Psychological Symptoms, Disorders, and Suicide Due to Cancer in Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Ainsley Ryan Yan Bin Lee  1 , Chen Ee Low  1 , Chun En Yau  1 , Jiaqi Li  2 , Roger Ho  3   4 , Cyrus Su Hui Ho  3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Lifetime Burden of Psychological Symptoms, Disorders, and Suicide Due to Cancer in Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Ainsley Ryan Yan Bin Lee et al. JAMA Pediatr. .

Abstract

Importance: A cancer diagnosis and treatment may result in highly traumatic periods with lasting psychological consequences for children, adolescent, and young adult patients with cancer (CYACs). Early identification and management may prevent long-term psychological morbidity and suicide.

Objective: To analyze risk, severity, and risk factors for depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, and suicide in CYACs and noncancer comparators.

Data sources: Literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed Central from January 1, 2000, to November 18, 2022.

Study selection: Full-length articles in peer-reviewed journals that measured and reported risk and/or severity of depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, and suicide mortality in CYACs and a noncancer comparator group.

Data extraction and synthesis: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines were followed with prospective PROSPERO registration.

Main outcomes and measures: Risk ratios (RRs) were used for dichotomous outcomes, and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were used for continuous outcomes. SMDs were defined as follows: 0.2, small; 0.5, medium; and 0.8, large. Sources of heterogeneity and risk factors were investigated using sensitivity, subgroup, and meta-regression analyses.

Results: From 7319 records, 52 studies were included. Meta-analyses revealed that CYACs were at increased lifetime risk of severe symptoms or a disorder of depression (RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.29-1.92), anxiety (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.14-1.47), and psychotic disorders (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.36-1.80) relative to both matched controls and their siblings. Overall suicide mortality was not significantly elevated (RR, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.78-3.40). The mean severity of depression was found to be elevated in CYACs receiving treatment (SMD, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.13-0.74) and long-term survivors (SMD, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.02-0.33). The mean severity of anxiety was found to be elevated only during treatment (SMD, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.20).

Conclusions and relevance: Findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that CYACs may experience lasting psychological burden long into survivorship. Timely identification, preventive efforts, and psycho-oncological intervention for psychological comorbidity are recommended.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Flowchart
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Incidence and Risk Ratios (RRs) in Children, Adolescent, and Young Adult Patients With Cancer (CYACs) Compared With Controls Without Cancer
Incidence and RRs in CYACs and controls without cancer for severe depression or depressive disorder,,,,,,,, (A), severe anxiety or anxiety disorder,,,,,, (B), and psychotic disorders,,,, (C).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.2162

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