Emotional Processing in Psychological Interventions for Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract: Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women globally, with profound health and psychological effects. While psychological interventions can ease stress from breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, there remains a gap in research regarding the emotional processing in these interventions. This review aims to identify how psychological interventions for breast cancer patients correlate with different stages of emotional processing. A literature search was performed in scientific databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Academic Search Complete and PsycArticles. Articles published from 2013 until 2023 were included. Of 112 abstracts, 49 were deemed eligible for inclusion. A total of 53 interventions were categorized into five groups: Psychoeducational ( n = 6), Coping Skills ( n = 25), Emotional-based ( n = 2), Cognitive-based ( n = 17), and Trans-theoretical ( n = 3). Regarding emotional processing stages based on Greenberg’s model, emotion regulation (85%) and emotional awareness (57%) were the most addressed processes among these interventions. Although most studies found benefits for breast cancer patients in some dimensions, such as quality of life, psychological distress and physical symptoms associated with the disease, such interventions might not fully explore the depth of emotional experiences, especially in alignment with Greenberg’s emotional processing framework. Further studies are needed to evaluate emotional processing in psychological interventions, thereby guaranteeing that patients receive optimal care throughout their cancer journey.