Zusammenfassung
Existenzielle Belastungen treten häufig bei Patienten mit fortgeschrittener Krebserkrankung auf. Obwohl es eine Reihe von wirksamen psychotherapeutischen Interventionen zur Behandlung psychischer Belastungen bei Krebspatienten gibt, stehen Themen wie Hoffnung und Lebenssinn oft nur begrenzt im Fokus der therapeutischen Arbeit. Vor allem im angloamerikanischen Raum wurden in den letzten Jahren zunehmend sinnorientierte Interventionen für Krebspatienten entwickelt und evaluiert. Diese meist als Gruppentherapie konzipierten Ansätze zielen übergreifend auf die Reduktion von emotionalen und spirituellen Belastungen, auf die Förderung von Hoffnung, Mut und Kontrolle, die Mobilisierung innerer Ressourcen und das Aufzeigen neuer Lebensperspektiven trotz einer spürbar begrenzten Lebenserwartung. Weitere Zielsetzungen sind die Stärkung des Selbstwertgefühls und des Gefühls von Würde, die Verringerung von Gefühlen der Isolation und Einsamkeit, die Würdigung von Stärken und Errungenschaften im Leben des Patienten, die Stärkung der Bindung zwischen Patient und Familie sowie die Verbesserung der Kommunikation mit dem Behandlungsteam.
Abstract
Patients with advanced cancer often suffer from existential distress. Although a variety of effective psychotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of psychological distress in cancer patients are available, concerns such as hope and meaning of life are only occasionally at the center of therapeutic attention. During recent years growing efforts have been made to develop and evaluate meaning-based interventions for cancer patients, particularly in the Anglo-American research literature. Meaning-based interventions are often realized as group therapy approaches to reduce emotional and spiritual distress and to promote hope, courage and control, to mobilize internal resources and to discuss future goals despite a noticeable limited life expectancy. Further aims include strengthening a patient’s self-esteem and sense of dignity, to appreciate strengths and past achievements, to reduce feelings of isolation, to strengthen the relationship with the partner and family members and to improve communication with the professional healthcare team.
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Mehnert, A., Braack, K. & Vehling, S. Sinnorientierte Interventionen in der Psychoonkologie. Psychotherapeut 56, 394–399 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00278-011-0857-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00278-011-0857-9