Psychosomatic Symptoms in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients and Its Relation With Using Complementary and Alternative Medicines: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Iran.

When you're facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, it's natural to seek every possible avenue of support — including complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry explored how terminally ill cancer patients in southeastern Iran used CAM and whether it was connected to their physical and emotional symptoms.

The researchers surveyed 221 patients with metastatic cancer, asking about their symptoms, anxiety, depression, and use of various CAM therapies. The average participant was around 52 years old, and the majority were women.

What did they find? A striking 87% of participants had used at least one form of CAM in the past year. Prayer was by far the most common practice, used by nearly 84% of patients. Medicinal plants came in second at 36%, followed by massage (9.5%), dietary supplements (3.6%), cupping therapies, relaxation and meditation, and acupuncture (0.5%).

Interestingly, despite their serious diagnoses, participants reported relatively low levels of anxiety and depression. Most had normal scores on standardized mental health scales. The most common reason people turned to CAM was to reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with a cancer diagnosis and to support their treatment.

However, the study found no significant difference in physical or psychological symptoms between those who used CAM and those who did not. This doesn't mean CAM isn't helpful — it may simply reflect how complex and individual the cancer experience is, and that people are drawn to CAM for reasons beyond symptom relief, including spiritual comfort and a sense of personal agency.

If you're a cancer patient curious about acupuncture or other complementary therapies, speak with a licensed acupuncturist who has experience working with oncology patients to ensure safe, coordinated care.

This cross-sectional study (n = 221) examined CAM utilization and its relationship to psychosomatic symptom burden in terminally ill, metastatic-stage cancer patients in southeastern Iran. Assessment tools included the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a CAM use and satisfaction questionnaire. Mean age was 51.66 ± 13.34 years. Despite terminal diagnoses, participants demonstrated relatively low psychosomatic symptom scores (mean ESAS physical score: 22.25 ± 17.57). Anxiety and depression prevalence were notably low, with the majority scoring within normal ranges on HADS. CAM uptake was high at 87.3%, with prayer (83.7%), medicinal plants (35.8%), and massage (9.5%) being most prevalent; acupuncture was used by only 0.5%. No statistically significant differences in physical or psychological symptom scores were observed between CAM users and non-users. The primary motivation for CAM use was stress and anxiety reduction. Clinically, these findings highlight high CAM prevalence in oncology palliative populations and underscore the need for practitioner-led CAM integration and patient communication strategies.