Psycho-oncology: Bridging mental health and cancer care in modern medicine.

UNLABELLED: Psycho-oncology integrates psychological care into oncology to address distress, improve adherence, and enhance quality of life, yet its nursing-led applications remain underexplored. PURPOSE: This systematic review synthesizes evidence on psycho-oncological interventions and their implications for psychiatric/mental health nursing practice, incorporating recent advancements from 2023 to 2025. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus from January 2015 to November 2025. INCLUSION CRITERIA: peer-reviewed articles in English on psycho-oncological interventions, psychological distress, or nursing roles in cancer care. EXCLUSIONS: case reports, non-empirical studies, pre-2015 publications. Quality appraisal used the MMAT tool for methodological rigor. RESULTS: Seventy-five studies were included. Key interventions (CBT, MBSR, SSRIs) reduce distress (moderate to strong evidence), with emerging data on mind-body therapies for pain relief and global prevalence of survivor mental health issues. Nursing-led screening, communication training, and caregiver support improve outcomes. Barriers include stigma and resource gaps, particularly in MENA regions. CONCLUSIONS: Psycho-oncology supports mental health nursing through distress screening, intervention delivery, and advocacy, contributing to more integrated care models. Limitations include reliance on English-language publications and potential publication bias, which may limit generalizability. Future research should focus on longitudinal trials and equity in low-resource settings.