Frontiers in oncologyOct 20, 2026

Combined approaches to manage anxiety and depression in people with cancer

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Oct 21, 2026

Abstract

Anxiety and depression symptoms and disorders are prevalent in people with cancer.

Integrative therapies recommended for managing anxiety and depression in cancer patients include mindfulness, yoga, and acupuncture.
Preliminary evidence suggests that emerging therapies such as light therapy and psychedelic-assisted therapy may also be effective.
The review highlights common methodological issues in current research and offers suggestions for future studies.

Simplified

This review summarizes the definition, diagnosis and prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and disorders in people with cancer, followed by an overview of integrative therapies that are guideline-recommended for managing these conditions. Recommended therapies include mindfulness-based interventions, yoga, relaxation, music, reflexology, Taichi/Qigong, acupuncture, lavender aromatherapy and hypnosis. This is followed by a summary of emerging therapies that show preliminary evidence of efficacy, but are not yet included in guideline recommendations, including other forms of aromatherapy, light therapy, biofield therapies, psychedelic-assisted therapy and nature-based interventions. The paper concludes with a summary of common methodological issues and suggestions for future research directions.

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Combined approaches to manage anxiety and depression in people with cancer

Abstract

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