Psychological and neuropsychological clinical impact in brain cancer patients and evidence-based psychological intervention: a systematic review of the literature

Background Cancer patients may suffer from psychological disorders related to their health condition. Various medical, surgical, and interventional procedures, alongside the distinct tumor localization, have been linked to an elevated predisposition towards psychological disorders, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and cognitive impairments. Objective To systematically review the literature on neurocognitive rehabilitation of patients before and after brain cancer. Methods The systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for the systematic review of the PRISMA Group. The literature search was conducted from February 2022 to December 2022 in the databases of PubMed, APA PsycNet, and Web of Science. The focus was on cognitive-behavioural treatments, with Goal Management Training (GMT), and also an app on the iPad-ReMind-that includes psychoeducation, strategy training, and retraining, and new technologies such as virtual reality, in patients with cognitive deficits after neurosurgery. Conclusions Overall, neurocognitive rehabilitation had an improvement on cancer patients and a recovery of executive and cognitive functions, a better quality of life, and psychological well-being.