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. 2018 Mar 27;6(1):11.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-018-0225-4.

Effectiveness of psychological interventions to improve quality of life in people with long-term conditions: rapid systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Niall Anderson  1   2 , Gozde Ozakinci  3
Affiliations

Effectiveness of psychological interventions to improve quality of life in people with long-term conditions: rapid systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Niall Anderson et al. BMC Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: Long-term conditions may negatively impact multiple aspects of quality of life including physical functioning and mental wellbeing. The rapid systematic review aimed to examine the effectiveness of psychological interventions to improve quality of life in people with long-term conditions to inform future healthcare provision and research.

Methods: EBSCOhost and OVID were used to search four databases (PsychInfo, PBSC, Medline and Embase). Relevant papers were systematically extracted by one researcher using the predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria based on titles, abstracts, and full texts. Randomized controlled trial psychological interventions conducted between 2006 and February 2016 to directly target and assess people with long-term conditions in order to improve quality of life were included. Interventions without long-term condition populations, psychological intervention and/or patient-assessed quality of life were excluded.

Results: From 2223 citations identified, 6 satisfied the inclusion/exclusion criteria. All 6 studies significantly improved at least one quality of life outcome immediately post-intervention. Significant quality of life improvements were maintained at 12-months follow-up in one out of two studies for each of the short- (0-3 months), medium- (3-12 months), and long-term (≥ 12 months) study duration categories.

Conclusions: All 6 psychological intervention studies significantly improved at least one quality of life outcome immediately post-intervention, with three out of six studies maintaining effects up to 12-months post-intervention. Future studies should seek to assess the efficacy of tailored psychological interventions using different formats, durations and facilitators to supplement healthcare provision and practice.

Keywords: Conditions; Health; Intervention; Life; Long-term; Mental; Physical; Psychological; Quality; Wellbeing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ Information

NA graduated with a BSc (Hons.) Psychology degree from the University of Dundee in 2014, before graduating with a MSc Health Psychology degree from the University of St Andrews in 2015. NA conducted the review as part of employment as a Trainee Health Psychologist in NHS Borders, with research being conducted in affiliation with the University of St Andrews. NA aims to achieve Chartership as a British Psychological Society and Health & Care Professionals Council registered Health Psychologist in June 2018.

GO is a Chartered Health Psychologist and is a Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology within the University of St Andrews School of Medicine Division of Population and Behavioural Health Sciences.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study Selection Process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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