Integrating a traditional Chinese medicine hospice care system to address depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in advanced cancer

doi:10.5498/wjp.v15.i10.108590

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World Journal of Psychiatry

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2220-3206

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

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World J Psychiatry. Oct 19, 2025; 15(10): 108590
Published online Oct 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i10.108590

Integrating a traditional Chinese medicine hospice care system to address depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in advanced cancer

Lei Liu, An-Qin Xiao, Xiao-Mei Cui, Xiao Jiang, Liu-Dan Zhou, Qiong Meng, Zhe-Yi Cai, Yi Ma, Ruo-Yi Liao

Lei Liu, An-Qin Xiao, Xiao-Mei Cui, Xiao Jiang, Liu-Dan Zhou, Qiong Meng, Yi Ma, Tumor Medical Center, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province, China

Zhe-Yi Cai, Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province, China

Ruo-Yi Liao, Department of Nursing, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province, China

Author contributions: Liu L contributed to the study conception and design, performed the clinical intervention, collected data, and was responsible for the initial draft of the manuscript; Xiao AQ, Cui XM, and Jiang X participated in patient recruitment, data acquisition, and implementation of the hospice care protocols; Zhou LD and Liao RY supervised the entire research process, including project administration, methodological guidance, and final approval of the version to be published as the co-corresponding authors; Meng Q, Cai ZY and Ma Y contributed to statistical analysis, interpretation of the data, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; Liu L, Xiao AQ, Cui XM, Jiang X, Zhou LD, Meng Q, Cai ZY, Ma Y, and Liao RY provided support in the formulation of the traditional Chinese medicine hospice care system and coordinated the integration of traditional Chinese medicine-based interventions; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Supported by Joint Fund Project of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, No. 2024XYLH036; National Advantageous Specialty of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Nursing (Guo Zhong Yao Yi Zheng Han[2024] No. 90), No. czxm-yb-2024002; and Young Talent Program of Hunan Nursing Association.

Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by The Ethics Committee of The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine.

Clinical trial registration statement: This study is registered at the Clinical Registry: https://www.researchregistry.com.

Informed consent statement: All study participants, or their legal guardian, provided informed written consent prior to study enrollment.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All of us authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 Statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 Statement.

Data sharing statement: For detailed data, please contact the corresponding author.

Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Corresponding author: Ruo-Yi Liao, MD, Department of Nursing, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, No. 95 Shaoshan Middle Road, Yuhua District, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province, China. hxhn902170@163.com

Received: June 10, 2025
Revised: July 9, 2025
Accepted: July 21, 2025
Published online: October 19, 2025
Processing time: 108 Days and 0.4 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The hospice care system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a reference for relieving depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in patients with advanced cancer.

AIM

To explore the effects of TCM hospice care on depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted between July 2023 and June 2024. Patients with advanced cancer were selected and divided into observation and control groups (n = 34 per group). The observation group received TCM hospice care, with a 4-week treatment cycle. The control group received routine hospice care. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess depression, anxiety, and sleep quality changes, and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 26.0 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in age, sex, cancer type, disease course, or baseline mental symptom scores between the groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the observation group showed significantly greater improvements in depression, anxiety, and sleep quality (P < 0.05). The depression, anxiety, and sleep scores in the observation group decreased to 7.21 ± 2.48, 6.12 ± 2.39, and 4.53 ± 1.89, respectively. In the control group, these scores decreased to 11.42 ± 3.12, 10.14 ± 3.21, and 6.21 ± 1.79. The observation group demonstrated superior efficacy (P < 0.05). Depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were significantly positively correlated (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified the TCM hospice care system as an independent factor improving patients’ health.

CONCLUSION

The TCM hospice care system effectively improves depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in patients with advanced cancer, offering comprehensive care suitable for clinical promotion and application.

Keywords: Traditional Chinese medicine; Hospice care system; Advanced cancer; Depression; Anxiety

Core Tip: This study highlights the clinical value of integrating a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospice care system into the management of patients with advanced cancer. The results demonstrate that TCM-based interventions significantly alleviate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders compared to conventional hospice care. By incorporating psychological support, TCM nursing techniques, and individualized symptom relief strategies, this approach offers a holistic and culturally resonant model of palliative care. The findings provide a practical reference for nursing programs and emphasize the potential of TCM hospice care in improving quality of life and emotional well-being in terminally ill cancer patients.