Individual meaning‐centered psychotherapy for the treatment of psychological and existential distress: A randomized controlled trial in patients with advanced cancer

Abstract

This study provides further support for the efficacy of IMCP as a treatment for psychological and existential/spiritual distress in patients with advanced cancer. Significant treatment effects (small to moderate effect sizes) were observed in comparison with usual care, and somewhat more modest differences in improvement (small effect sizes) were observed in comparison with SP. Thus, the benefits of meaning-centered psychotherapy appear to be unique to the intervention and highlight the importance of addressing existential issues with patients approaching the end of life. Cancer 2018. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Illness perception and affective symptoms in gastrointestinal cancer patients: A moderated mediation analysis of meaning in life and coping

“…A high level of meaning in life buffers the effect of negative illness perception on coping and, consequently, reduces affective symptoms. This interpretation is in line with the meaning‐making model and previous studies in which meaning in life proved to be beneficial to adjustment and quality of life in cancer patients, influencing their illness perception and coping …”

“…Meaning in life comprises “people's comprehension of the world around them and their investment in a self‐concordant purpose (p. 165).” Examining the effects of meaning‐centered group psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer, Breitbart and colleagues found that meaning structures were conducive to reducing the level of depression, hopelessness, and physical symptom distress; however, no effects were observed for anxiety . In a longitudinal study, the therapeutic intervention based on meaning also alleviated psychological and existential/spiritual distress among patients with advanced cancer …”

Psychosocial interventions for advanced cancer patients: A systematic review

“…Among these, six studies reported improvement in at least one primary outcome in patients who received the meaning‐enhancing intervention compared with the control condition and/or usual care. Meaning‐centred psychotherapy was shown to increase patients' spiritual well‐being, sense of meaning, and quality of life . SEGT was reported to decrease pain and suffering, while two other studies conducted by independent groups found no significant between‐group differences in patient survival, although the researchers reported significant disease‐ and treatment‐related predictors of survival …”

“…We included, in this category, 11 studies that examined psychotherapeutic interventions that emerged from existential theories and that seek to enhance life meaning in the face of terminal diagnosis. These interventions included meaning‐centred psychotherapy, supportive‐expressive therapy, and other therapies that emphasise meaning making …”

The PRISM intervention for adolescents and young adults with cancer: Paying attention to the patient as a whole person

“…7 Breitbart et al's meaning-centered psychotherapy promotes reflection on life's meaning through a series of psychotherapeutic sessions. 8 Interventions such as these can positively affect spiritual well-being and quality of life and reduce existential distress. The intervention developed by Rosenberg et al 3 is forward-looking rather than a life review, and it is practically oriented and focused on skill development and goal setting as well as personal reflection.…”