EFFICACY OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN REDUCING ANXIETY IN HOSPITALIZED CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

Anxiety is a recurring phenomenon in hospitalized cancer patients, intensified by hospitalization, pain, invasive procedures, and the perception of life-threatening conditions. Given this scenario, this study aimed to analyze the role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in reducing anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients. This is basic research with a qualitative approach, through an integrative review of scientific literature published between 2010 and 2025 in databases such as SciELO, PubMed, and LILACS. The results demonstrated that anxiety is highly prevalent in this group of patients, influenced by clinical, emotional, and contextual factors. The analysis showed that CBT, adapted to the hospital environment, offers effective techniques such as psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation, behavioral activation, and problem-solving, applicable in brief protocols that are easily integrated into the hospital routine. Significant reductions in anxiety levels were observed, as well as improvements in quality of life and coping with hospitalization. We conclude that CBT is an effective, safe, and viable intervention for managing anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients and should be incorporated into clinical practices in a structured manner and integrated with the multidisciplinary team.