Spirituality and meaning in supportive care: Spirituality- and meaning-centered group psychotherapy interventions in advanced cancer Journal Article


Author: Breitbart, W.
Article Title: Spirituality and meaning in supportive care: Spirituality- and meaning-centered group psychotherapy interventions in advanced cancer
Abstract: Existential and spiritual issues are at the frontier of new clinical and research focus in palliative and supportive care of cancer patients. As concepts of adequate supportive care expand beyond a focus on pain and physical symptom control, existential and spiritual issues such as meaning, hope and spirituality in general have received increased attention from supportive care clinicians and clinical researchers. This paper reviews the topics of spirituality and end-of-life care, defines spirituality, and suggests measures of spirituality that deal with two of its main components: faith/religious beliefs and meaning/spiritual well-being. These two constructs of spirituality are reviewed in terms of their role in supportive care. Finally, a review of existing psychotherapeutic interventions for spiritual suffering are reviewed and a novel meaning-centered group psychotherapy for advanced cancer patients is described.
Keywords: review; advanced cancer; cancer patient; neoplasms; palliative care; quality of life; attitude to health; cancer pain; patient care; symptom; self concept; terminal care; meaning; religion; psychotherapy, group; spirituality; psychotherapy; wellbeing; religion and medicine; cancer; humans; human; priority journal
Journal Title: Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0941-4355
Publisher: Springer Verlag  
Date Published: 2002-05-01
Start Page: 272
End Page: 280
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s005200100289
PUBMED: 12029426
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 14 November 2014 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. William S Breitbart
    505 Breitbart
Related MSK Work