Meaning of life therapy: a pilot study of a novel psycho-existential intervention for palliative care in cancer

Ana Rita Cardoso; Sónia Remondes-Costa; Elisa Veiga; Vera Almeida; José Rocha; Ricardo João Teixeira; Gerly Macedo; Manuela Leite

doi:10.31219/osf.io/2bnsx

Meaning of life therapy: a pilot study of a novel psycho-existential intervention for palliative care in cancer

Ana Rita Cardoso, Sónia Remondes-Costa, Elisa Veiga, Vera Almeida, José Rocha, Ricardo João Teixeira, Gerly Macedo, Manuela Leite^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Working paper › Preprint

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Abstract

Intervention in Palliative Care aims to provide physical, psychosocial, and spiritual relief for patients and family members. Brief interventions with a psycho-existential approach have shown positive responses; however, cultural adaptations are needed. This pilot study aimed to develop the Meaning of Life Therapy (MLT), a novel psycho-existential intervention, rooted in the Dignity Therapy, Life Review, and Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy. MLT was culturally adapted to the Portuguese context to include questions about forgiveness, apology, reconciliation, farewell, and a legacy document, i.e., the Life Letter. Nine PC cancer patients answered a 14-question MLT protocol, intended to help patients find purpose and meaning in life. Eight themes emerged: Family, Preservation of Identity, Life Retrospective, Clinical Situation, Achievements, Socio-Professional Valorization, Forgiveness/Apology/Reconciliation, and Saying Goodbye. MLT has proved its ability to respond to the psycho-existential needs of PC patients. Further studies should be conducted to gain extensive knowledge of the effectiveness of culturally responsive interventions.

Original language	English
Pages	1-36
Number of pages	36
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/2bnsx
Publication status	Published - 29 Mar 2023

Publication series

Name	OSF Preprints

Keywords

Meaning of life therapy
Psycho-existential interventions
Palliative care
Dignity
Cancer

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.31219/osf.io/2bnsxLicence: CC0

73521146Final published version, 507 KBLicence: CC0

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/41939Licence: CC0

1 Active

CEDH: Research Centre for Human Development
Dias, P. (Assistant Professor), Matos, R. (Associate Professor), Carvalho, M. C. (Assistant Professor), Peixtoto, C. E. (Researcher), Pires, C. V. (Researcher), Carneiro, A. (Invited Assistant Professor), Ribeiro, L. M. (Assistant Professor), Barbosa, M. (Assistant Professor), Martins, F. (Invited Assistant Professor), Moreno, A. (Researcher), Costa, M. (Researcher), Andrade, A. (Assistant Professor), Fonseca, A. M. (Associate Professor), Silva, A. (Researcher), Gaspar, A. (Invited Assistant Professor), Machado, B. C. (Assistant Professor), Morais, C. (Invited Assistant Professor), Ribeiro, C. (Assistant Professor), Ribeiro, C. (Assistant Professor), Palmeirão, C. (Assistant Professor), Mesquita, D. (Invited Assistant Professor), Soares, D. (Invited Assistant Professor), Veiga, E. (Assistant Professor), Palha, F. (Assistant Professor), Sobral, F. (Assistant Professor), Cabral, I. (Assistant Professor), Baptista, I. (Associate Professor), Pinto, J. C. (Assistant Professor), Azevedo, J. (Full Professor), Machado, J. (Researcher), Lagarto, J. R. (Researcher), Alves, J. M. (Invited Associate Professor), Ribeiro, L. (Invited Assistant Professor), Campos, L. (Assistant Professor), Orvalho, L. (Researcher), Veríssimo, L. (Assistant Professor), Roldão, M. D. C. (Researcher), Xavier, M. R. (Assistant Professor), Negrão, M. (Assistant Professor), Carvalho, M. (Invited Assistant Professor), Oliveira, M. (Adjunct Professor), Batista, P. (Contracted Doctorate), Oliveira-Silva, P. (Assistant Professor), Pereira, P. (Assistant Professor), Serrão, R. (Researcher), Lima, V. S. (Assistant Professor), Ribeiro, P. (PI) & Rocha, M. M. M. (PI)
1/01/20 → 31/12/25
Project: Research

1 Article

Meaning of life therapy: a pilot study of a novel psycho-existential intervention for palliative care in cancer
Cardoso, A. R., Remondes-Costa, S., Veiga, E., Almeida, V., Rocha, J., Teixeira, R. J., Macedo, G. & Leite, M., 2023, (Accepted/In press) In: Omega (United States). 30 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
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3 Citations (Scopus)

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Cite this

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abstract = "Intervention in Palliative Care aims to provide physical, psychosocial, and spiritual relief for patients and family members. Brief interventions with a psycho-existential approach have shown positive responses; however, cultural adaptations are needed. This pilot study aimed to develop the Meaning of Life Therapy (MLT), a novel psycho-existential intervention, rooted in the Dignity Therapy, Life Review, and Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy. MLT was culturally adapted to the Portuguese context to include questions about forgiveness, apology, reconciliation, farewell, and a legacy document, i.e., the Life Letter. Nine PC cancer patients answered a 14-question MLT protocol, intended to help patients find purpose and meaning in life. Eight themes emerged: Family, Preservation of Identity, Life Retrospective, Clinical Situation, Achievements, Socio-Professional Valorization, Forgiveness/Apology/Reconciliation, and Saying Goodbye. MLT has proved its ability to respond to the psycho-existential needs of PC patients. Further studies should be conducted to gain extensive knowledge of the effectiveness of culturally responsive interventions.",

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Meaning of life therapy: a pilot study of a novel psycho-existential intervention for palliative care in cancer

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

CEDH: Research Centre for Human Development

Research output

Meaning of life therapy: a pilot study of a novel psycho-existential intervention for palliative care in cancer

Cite this