A case series report of cancer patients undergoing group body psychotherapy

Abstract

Background: Disturbances in bodily wellbeing represent a key source of psychosocial suffering and impairment related to cancer. Therefore, interventions to improve bodily wellbeing in post-treatment cancer patients are of paramount importance. Notably, body psychotherapy (BPT) has been shown to improve bodily wellbeing in subjects suffering from a variety of mental disorders. However, how post-treatment cancer patients perceive and subjectively react to group BPT aiming at improving bodily disturbances has, to the best of our knowledge, not yet been described. Methods: We report on six patients undergoing outpatient group BPT that followed oncological treatment for malignant neoplasms. The BPT consisted of six sessions based on a scientific embodiment approach, integrating body-oriented techniques to improve patients’ awareness, perception, acceptance, and expression regarding their body. Results: The BPT was well accepted by all patients. Despite having undergone different types of oncological treatment for different cancer types and locations, all subjects reported having appreciated BPT and improved how they perceived their bodies. However, individual descriptions of improvements showed substantial heterogeneity across subjects. Notably, most patients indicated that sensations, perceptions, and other mental activities related to their own body intensified when proceeding through the group BPT sessions. Conclusion: The findings from this case series encourage and inform future studies examining whether group BPT is efficacious in post-treatment cancer patients and investigating the related mechanisms of action. The observed heterogeneity in individual descriptions of perceived treatment effects point to the need for selecting comprehensive indicators of changes in disturbances of bodily wellbeing as the primary patient-reported outcome in future clinical trials. While increases in mental activities related to their own body are commonly interpreted as important mechanisms of therapeutic action in BPT, follow-up assessments are needed to evaluate intended and unintended consequences of these changes in cancer patients.

A clinical trial of group-based body psychotherapy to improve bodily disturbances in post-treatment cancer patients in combination with randomized controlled smartphone-triggered bodily interventions (KPTK): study protocol

“…Following recommendations from the BMJ to improve patient involvement in research [37] we involved two patients, who had participated in the first conducted BPT group [25] beyond the study descript here, in the translation process of the BIS and the development of semi-standardized questionnaires, as well as in the preparation of the study information. Furthermore, both were asked to report on their experiences, and to review the planned trial and the study materials regarding their practical applicability and acceptance.…”

“…Compared to individual therapy, group interventions may benefit from additional therapeutic factors and may have economic benefits [49, 50]. First experiences with group BPT for cancer patients were obtained from an initial group (6 patients), as described elsewhere [25]. The intervention is carried out in small groups within 6 sessions, 90 min each.…”

“…The 6 group BPT sessions will comprise the following topics: 1) general introduction, fostering of group cohesion and focus on bodily perception; 2) focus on bodily resources and grounding; 3) focus on closeness and distance regulation; 4) focus on social interactions and bodily impulses; 5) focus on embodied emotions; and 6) summary and transfer session. All sessions should proceed along the following phases: A) Opening: brief bodily exercise and exchange, preparing the specific topic of the session; B) Psycho-educational element and exercises triggering embodied experiences, focusing on the specific topic of the session with sharing (reflection and exchange of experiences during the exercise); C) Closure: résumé and farewell (see Table 2 and Grossert et al [25]). Within this schedule, each session can be adapted to the composition of the current patient group and its respective needs.…”

“…There is some evidence that body psychotherapy (BPT), defined as ‘psychotherapeutic treatment of mental disease or suffering, concomitantly using bodily and mental psychotherapeutic means’ (see [20]) is efficacious for the treatment of various mental disorders [21–24]. However, with regard to cancer patients, evidence of BPT is scarce [25, 26]. BPT explicitly targets bodily aspects, such as perceptions, feelings, and attitudes towards the body, which are of paramount importance in the context of bodily disturbances in cancer patients.…”