TCM Therapies For Treating Cancer-Related Anxiety And Depression:A Meta-Analysis

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of TCM in intervention of cancer-related anxiety and depression,and to provide data evidence for TCM treatment of cancer-related emotional diseases.Methods: The following online databases were searched: CNKI,VIP,CBM,Wanfang Database,Pub Med.The search time limit was from the establishment of the database to the end of December 2018,and there was no restriction on language and publication.The literature was screened in strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria,and relevant data were extracted.Rev Man 5.3 software was used to analyse five outcome indicators as total effective rate,Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)by effect analysis,heterogeneity analysis,sensitivity analysis,and published bias analysis.Eventually,produce forest maps and funnel plots to display the results.Results: After rigorous screening,a total of 29 articles were included in the study,including 2510 patients.The results of meta-analysis showed that 13 studies have statistically summarized the total effective rate,combined with OR=3.11,95% CI [2.21,4.37],P<0.00001,suggesting that TCM therapies for improving cancer-related anxiety and depression symptoms are better than only use drugs or simply mental intervention,the difference was statistically significant.15 studies recorded post-treatment HAMD scores,analysis shows as MD=-5.53,95% CI [-8.14,-2.92],P<0.05,and the difference was statistically significant.10 studies compared the post-treatment SDS scores,analysis shows as MD=-11.54,95% CI [-16.64,-6.43],P < 0.05,and the difference was statistically significant.The SAS scores after treatment were counted in 8 studies,with MD=-7.30,95% CI [-11.05,-3.55],P<0.05,and the difference was statistically significant.7 studies reported changes in HAMA scores after treatment,with MD=-3.69,95% CI [-7.81,0.44],P<0.05,and the results were not statistically significant.The above results indicate that TCM treatment can reduce anxiety and depression scale scores and improve anxiety and depression condition in cancer patients.The study also conducted subgroup analysis based on different therapies interventions.The results of the subgroup analysis of SAS,SDS,HAMD score showed that different therapies may be the source of heterogeneity.Conclusion: 1.TCM do effect in treating cancer-related anxiety and depression.2.TCM internal and external treatments all could help improve anxiety and depression symptoms.3.TCM need more rigorous RCT clinical experiments for further developments.