Meaning-centered psychotherapy Book Section


Authors: Breitbart, W. S.; Lichtenthal, W. G.; Applebaum, A. J.
Editors: Steel, J. L.; Carr, B. I.
Article/Chapter Title: Meaning-centered psychotherapy
Abstract: Existential distress and suffering are common among patients with advanced cancer. For patients who are facing death, a sense of meaning-and the preservation of that meaning-are not only clinically and existentially important but are central to providing holistic, high-quality end-of-life care. Two decades ago, our research group at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center began to understand that a meaning-centered approach to psychosocial care had the potential to alleviate the existential distress that plagued many patients with advanced cancer. Based originally on the work of Viktor Frankl's and principles of existential psychology and philosophy, we developed Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) to help patients with advanced cancer sustain or enhance a sense of meaning, peace, and purpose in their lives in the face of the challenges they commonly face. This chapter provides an overview of MCP and its clinical applications. We summarize the growing body of research that has demonstrated the efficacy of MCP in improving meaning, quality of life, and spiritual well-being, and in reducing psychological distress and despair at the end of life. Adaptations of MCP for other purposes and populations, such as cancer survivors, cancer caregivers, and bereaved family members, are also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Keywords: advanced cancer; psycho-oncology; psychiatry; meaning; psychotherapy; palliative medicine; existential psychotherapy; manualized treatment
Book Title: Psychological Aspects of Cancer: A Guide to Emotional and Psychological Consequences of Cancer, their Causes, and their Management. 2nd ed
ISBN: 978-3-030-85701-1
Publisher: Springer Nature  
Publication Place: Cham, Switzerland
Date Published: 2022-01-01
Start Page: 399
End Page: 409
Language: English
ACCESSION: 2022-63414-023
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-85702-8_23
PROVIDER: Ovid Technologies
PROVIDER: psycinfo
DOI/URL:
Notes: Book Chapter: 23 -- Steel, Jennifer L [Ed ; Carr, Brian I [Ed -- xiv, 475 -- Source: APA PsycInfo
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  1. William S Breitbart
    505 Breitbart
  2. Allison Joyce Applebaum
    191 Applebaum