Table 1 Papers selected and considered for discussion

Rosenberger et al. 2004

Knee arthroscopic surgery

Coping strategies

Preoperative vs 1 week after surgery

Preoperative vs 24 weeks after surgery

Cortisol levels (ug/dL):

Pts Active cooping 27 ± 2 vs 25 ± 2

Pts Avoidant cooping 22 ± 2 vs 20 ± 2

West Haven Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory

Pts Active cooping 1.8 ± 0.2 vs 0.9 ± 0.2

Pts Avoidant cooping 1.8 ± 0.2 vs 1.2 ± 0.2

*P < 0.05 overtime reduction with ANCOVA analysis.

*P < 0.05 overtime reduction with ANCOVA analysis.

Thornton et al. 2009

Breast cancer

Relaxation techniques and coping strategies

Effect estimates of Psyc. Interventions on metabolic variables [estimate (SE)]:

Effect estimates of Psyc. Interventions on surgical outcomes [estimate (SE)]:

White blood cells count: 0.45 (0.49)

Neutrophil count: 0.16 (0.37)

T-helper count: 0.59 (0.34)

Bodily Pain subscale from the Medical Outcomes Study-Short form (SF-36): −8.42 (6.86)

Zhao et al. 2016

Lung resection

Relaxation techniques

Pre vs post intervention

Preoperative vs 24 h after surgery

CD3⁺levels (%):

CG: 65.4 ± 11.3 vs 69.3 ± 11.1

PsycG: 64.2 ± 9.4* vs 67.2 ± 8.8

VAS

CG: 5.4 ± 1.3 vs 7.3 ± 1.3

PsycG: 2.7 ± 1.9* vs 4.2 ± 1.4*

CD4⁺levels (%):

CG: 39.2 ± 7.6 vs 4.1 ± 10.0

PsycG: 35.8 ± 7.9* vs 39.9 ± 8.1**

Cortisol levels (nmol/L):

CG: 494.7 ± 153.6 vs 471.3 ± 91.7

PsycG: 576.7 ± 125.1* vs 507.9 ± 131.9

*P < 0.05 in comparison between experimental group and control group.

**P < 0.05 in comparison before and after intervention in experimental group.

P < 0.05 in comparison between experimental group and control group.

Marques dos Santos Felix et al. 2018

Video-laparoscopic bariatric surgery

Relaxation therapy with guided imagery

Pre vs post intervention

Pre vs post intervention

Cortisol levels (ug/dL):

CG: 8.6 ± 5.4 vs 8.2 ± 5.3

PsycG: 9.9 ± 6.1 vs 7.9 ± 5.4*

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale

CG: 47.7 ± 3.8 vs 46.8 ± 3.7

PsycG: 47.5 ± 2.6 vs 43.0 ± 3.5*

*P < 0.001 in comparison before and after intervention in the experimental group.

*P < 0.001 in comparison before and after intervention in experimental group.

Mirmahmoodi et al. 2020

Breast cancer

Mindfulness

Pre vs post intervention

Pre vs post intervention

Cortisol levels (ug/dL):

CG: 16.5 ± 3.8 vs 16.7 ± 4.0*

PsycG: 18.8 ± 4.1 vs 18.3 ± 4.3*

Anxiety score:

CG: 25.4 ± 15.0 vs 35.0 ± 13.5*

PsycG: 31.18 ± 14.05 vs 23.50** ± 11.35*

CRP levels (mg/dL):

CG: 12.0 ± 6.2 vs 11.5 ± 6.3

PsycG: 15.5 ± 5.2 vs 14.3 ± 5.3

*P < 0.05 in comparison before and after intervention in both groups.

*P < 0.05 in comparison before and after intervention in both groups.

**P < 0.05 in comparison between the experimental group and control group.