Cognitive behavioral therapy for the management of cardiometabolic disease risk factors; a systematic meta-review of meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been suggested to patients with cardiometabolic abnormalities to change dysfunctional lifestyle and behavioral patterns and enhance psychological health. This systematic review of meta-analyses aimed to discuss current research findings regarding CBT approaches for the risk management of cardiometabolic disease and related risk markers.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases, for meta-analyses published between January 2010 and December 2024 examining the association between CBT and cardiometabolic disease. Meta-analyses in English language, studying populations with cardiometabolic abnormalities, and examining CBT's effectiveness on risk factors of cardiometabolic disease, were retrieved.

RESULTS

Sixteen meta-analyses were included. Findings suggest that CBT is effective in decreasing depressive symptoms and anxiety. Less evidence is available regarding the other risk-markers of cardiometabolic disease, as well as for improving quality of life and reducing risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. Conflicting findings exist regarding CBT's impact on managing blood pressure, blood lipids, and diabetes-related biomarkers. The results should be viewed with caution, as the studies included have several methodological shortcomings, such as small samples, high heterogeneity across studies, and low quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Current literature suggests that CBT seems a promising approach in disrupting the path through which psychological factors contribute to cardiometabolic disease development, although further studies are need.

© 2025. The Author(s).