Terapia de sentido de vida

: perceção dos doentes e familiares em contexto de cuidados paliativos

Abstract

Intervention in Palliative Care aims to relieve suffering and to promote quality of life. Existential psychotherapies are effective interventions in the approach to end-of-life patients and their families. In this perspective, Meaning of Life Therapy (MLT) is a brief and innovative psychotherapeutic intervention, based on therapies with proven efficacy, adapted for the Portuguese population, which aims to promote the psychological adjustment of the end-of-life patient by promoting a sense of meaning and purpose in life. This study aims to implement the MLT and evaluate its effectiveness through semi-structured interviews with the patient and their family. Five patients and three family members were involved. Qualitative data analysis was conducted according to the principles of thematic analysis, with the aid of Nvivo 11 software. This protocol showed positive results in the psychological adjustment of patients and relatives, in the acceptance of the disease and in the (re)construction of new meanings, allowing the preservation of dignity and promotion of life purpose. Thus, it is a promising proposal for the Portuguese population in PC. However, further studies are needed to expand the knowledge of its effectiveness.

Date of Award	14 Jul 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Elisa Veiga (Supervisor)