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Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy: A Form of Psychotherapy for Patients With Cancer

  • Complex Medical-Psychiatric Issues (MB Riba, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Caring for patients with cancer involves addressing their myriad physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Although many cancer treatments focus on physical or psychological needs, few treatments specifically target the basic need for meaning and spiritual well-being in this population. This article describes the creation and evolution of a new psychotherapy devoted to these needs, a therapy termed "meaning-centered psychotherapy.” In this article, a detailed description of meaning-centered psychotherapy is provided. An explanation of the current research findings related to this treatment are also offered, with information about the various group and individual treatments as well as the new expansions for use with cancer survivors or nursing staff. Overall, meaning-centered psychotherapy shows promise for enhancing meaning and spiritual well-being among patients with cancer and offers exciting possibilities for future research in other areas.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Acknowledgments

Work supported by grants from the American Cancer Society: MRSG-13-233-01-PCSM and the Westreich Foundation (Dr. Lori Montross Thomas), as well as the National Institute of Mental Health K23MH091176 (Dr. Scott Irwin).

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

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Conflict of Interest

Lori P. Montross Thomas, Emily A. Meier, and Scott A. Irwin declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moores Cancer Center, Psychiatry & Psychosocial Services; Patient & Family Support Services, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive #0664 La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0664, USA

    Lori P. Montross Thomas, Emily A. Meier & Scott A. Irwin

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Lori P. Montross Thomas & Scott A. Irwin

  3. Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Lori P. Montross Thomas

Authors
  1. Lori P. Montross Thomas
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  2. Emily A. Meier
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  3. Scott A. Irwin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lori P. Montross Thomas.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Complex Medical-Psychiatric Issues

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Thomas, L.P.M., Meier, E.A. & Irwin, S.A. Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy: A Form of Psychotherapy for Patients With Cancer. Curr Psychiatry Rep 16, 488 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0488-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0488-2

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