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:10.1177/00302228231209654

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: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

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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
Number of pages	30
Journal	Omega (United States)
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231209654 https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231209654
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2023

Keywords

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

UN SDGs

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

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10.1177/00302228231209654Licence: CC BY
10.1177/00302228231209654

88021719Final published version, 607 KBLicence: CC BY

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/43042Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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

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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year = "2023",

doi = "10.1177/00302228231209654",

language = "English",

journal = "Omega (United States)",

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AU - Cardoso, Ana Rita

AU - Remondes-Costa, Sónia

AU - Veiga, Elisa

AU - Almeida, Vera

AU - Rocha, José

AU - Teixeira, Ricardo João

AU - Macedo, Gerly

AU - Leite, Manuela

PY - 2023

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N2 - 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.

AB - 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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KW - Psycho-existential interventions

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SN - 0030-2228

JO - Omega (United States)

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ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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