SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Health Psychology
Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on neuropathic Pain and Associated Symptoms in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review.
Provisionally accepted
- 1Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
- 2Mansoura University Oncology Centre, Mansoura, Egypt
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Backgroundackground: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent and distressing complication of cancer therapy, characterized by neuropathic pain, sensory deficits, and impaired quality of life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been proposed as a pharmacological intervention that targets the maladaptive cognitive emotional mechanisms underlying pain perception and psychological distress. Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Dimensions databases was conducted up to December 2024. Eligible studies included randomized or controlled clinical trials evaluating CBT interventions in adults with CIPN. Data were extracted and appraised independently using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB-2) tool. Due to the heterogeneity in the study design and outcome measures, findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Four trials (total n = 334) met the inclusion criteria. CBT interventions, delivered as therapist-guided sessions, web-based self-management programs, or behavioral activation modules, resulted in significant reductions in pain intensity (10–25%) and psychological distress across most studies. Improvements in the quality of life were reported in two studies, while effects on sensory recovery and functional ability were modest and not statistically significant. Risk of bias was rated low in two studies and moderate in two, primarily due to the randomization and the reporting procedures. Conclusion: CBT demonstrates moderate effectiveness in reducing neuropathic pain and improving psychological well-being among patients with CIPN. Its therapeutic value lies in cognitive reframing, enhanced coping, and modulation of central pain processing rather than direct neural repair. Although functional and sensory outcomes remain inconclusive, integrating CBT within multidisciplinary cancer rehabilitation programs may enhance long-term adaptation and quality of life. Future large-scale randomized trials with standardized CBT protocols and extended follow-up are warranted to confirm the efficacy of CBT and optimize its clinical implementation.
Keywords: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), neuropathic pain, psychological distress, Quality of Life, Cancer rehabilitation
Received: 18 Sep 2025; Accepted: 30 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Alqahtani, Nuhmani, Alabbad, Abualait, Ahmad and bonna. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Maha A Alqahtani, maha5923@gmail.com
Shibili Nuhmani, snuhmani@iau.edu.sa
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