Zusammenfassung
Themen wie Lebenssinn und Spiritualität sind angesichts der Bedrohlichkeit einer schweren Erkrankung und der Konfrontation mit der Endlichkeit des eigenen Lebens von besonderer Bedeutung. Die Thematisierung von Sinnfragen und spirituellen Aspekten vor allem im Rahmen der supportiven Behandlung und Begleitung wird von Patienten, aber auch von Behandlern als essenziell angesehen. In den letzten Jahren mehren sich Forschungsarbeiten, die sich mit der theoretischen Fundierung und der empirischen Prüfung von Konzepten sowie mit der Entwicklung von Interventionen zur Sinnfindung bei körperlich Kranken beschäftigen. Theoretische Modelle für das Verständnis, die Entwicklung und Adaptation solcher Konzepte liefern nicht nur existenzphilosophische Theorien oder die Logotherapie, sondern auch die kognitive Entwicklungspsychologie und hier insbesondere Studien darüber, wie Menschen ihre Lebensgeschichte bilden und erinnern. Der Stand der empirischen Forschung zum Zusammenhang zwischen Sinnfindung, Spiritualität und körperlicher sowie psychischer Gesundheit und die hier zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen ist gegenwärtig allerdings unzureichend und lässt kaum belastbare Schlussfolgerungen zu. Mit Blick auf die psychosoziale Versorgung schwer kranker Patienten wurden international vor allem im Rahmen der palliativen Versorgung erste Interventionen entwickelt, die darauf abzielen, diese Menschen darin zu unterstützen, ihr Leben trotz der Erkrankung als sinnvoll zu erfahren und erfüllt zu leben.
Abstract
Issues of the meaning of life and spirituality are particularly important subjects given the threat of a serious illness and the confrontation with the finiteness of one‘s own life. Thus, addressing questions of meaning and spiritual domains of supportive care has been identified as essential by patients as well as by health care professionals. In recent years more research has focussed on theoretical conceptualization, empirical examination as well as on the development of meaning-centred interventions in somatically ill patients. Theoretical models for the understanding, development and adaptation of concepts and interventions addressing meaning and spirituality in the chronically ill are offered by the philosophical tradition of existentialism, logotherapy as well as by cognitive and developmental psychology, in particular studies on autobiographical memory and life story. However, the current state of empirical research focussing on the association between meaning, spirituality and physical as well as mental health and underlying mechanisms is not sufficient to draw reliable conclusions. With regard to psychosocial care, meaning-centred interventions have been developed in recent years primarily within the context of palliative care. These interventions are intended to support patients to find meaning in life in the face of a serious illness and to experience their life as fulfilled.
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Mehnert, A. Sinnfindung und Spiritualität bei Patienten mit chronischen körperlichen Erkrankungen. Bundesgesundheitsbl. 49, 780–787 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-006-0008-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-006-0008-6