A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological burden in family caregivers of patients with brain tumors

Family caregivers of brain tumor patients often experience severe psychological problems, with a high prevalence of mental health issues posing a growing challenge in clinical practice. However, the psychological burden borne by these caregivers remains underrecognized. This study aimed to systematically assess the psychological impact on family caregivers of brain tumor patients. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-P) 2020 guidelines, the systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE) for studies published up to February 2022. Effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and distress among brain tumor family caregivers were estimated by screening scales and analyzed using meta-analysis. This meta-analysis synthesized data from 15 studies encompassing a total of 974 family caregivers. The pooled prevalence of depression among the caregivers was 37.15% (95% confidence interval (CI) 22.00-52.30%). Additionally, the estimated prevalence of anxiety among the overall sample was 49.47% (95% CI 35.81-63.12%), while 64% (95% CI 54-74%) reported experiencing distress burden. Family caregivers of brain tumor patients exhibit a considerable prevalence of depression, anxiety, and distress. These findings highlight the critical need to assess the psychological burden imposed by brain tumors-particularly malignant cases-on both patients and their caregivers. Such assessment is essential for developing targeted interventions to enhance coping mechanisms and improve mental health support. Future research should further elucidate caregivers' specific psychological challenges to facilitate the implementation of support systems.