Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2004; 9: 45–6
The aim of this paper was to summarise and critically evaluate the evidence from clinical trials regarding the use of imagery as a sole adjuvant or supportive therapy for cancer.
Electronic searches for published RCTs were carried out in seven databases. Trials that featured imagery or guided imagery as a sole adjuvant or supportive therapy for cancer patients were included. No language restrictions were imposed. Data were extracted and validated independently by two researchers.
Six RCTs were included. Poor reporting and heterogeneous populations, interventions and outcome measures across trials precluded statistical pooling of results. The methodological quality was on average low. Three studies reported some beneficial effects of guided imagery, most frequently on psychological responses.
Guided imagery, as a sole adjuvant cancer therapy, may be psycho-supportive and increase comfort. There is no compelling evidence from clinical trials to suggest positive effects on physical symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. The data seem sufficiently encouraging to merit further study of imagery as a supportive therapy.
Liz Roffe was supported by a grant from the British Medical Association. Katja Schmidt was supported by the Pilkington Family Trusts.
