Psychological intervention in patients with advanced cancer at home through Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy-Palliative Care: a pilot study

Objective: To compare Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy-Palliative Care (IMCP-PC) to counselling-based psychotherapy in patients receiving home palliative care (PC). Methods: Fifty-one patients with advanced-stage cancer receiving home PC were recruited for this. Two-arm (individual meaning-centered psychotherapy-palliative—IMCP-PC—care vs. counselling) randomized feasibility trial. Anxiety, depression, demoralization, and emotional distress were evaluated before and after three psychotherapy sessions. Patient perceptions of the treatment were assessed after completion of therapy. Results: Thirty-two patients (16 in each group) completed all three sessions as well as the pre- and post-therapy questionnaires and were therefore included in the final analysis. All patients in the IMCP-PC group showed a significant decrease in levels of demoralization (despair), anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. By contrast, the only variable that significantly improved in the counselling group was demoralization. The post-treatment questionnaire revealed no significant between-group differences regarding patient perception of the structure, focus, or length of treatment. However, the IMCP-PC group rated the treatment more highly with regard to its value in helping them to find meaning in life. Conclusions: IMCP-PC is a specific psychotherapy tailored to the needs of patients with advanced cancer. The results of the present study indicate that this treatment is suitable for patients at end of life that are not able to attend outpatient sessions. Although more research is needed, the findings of this feasibility trial suggest that the IMCP-PC merits consideration for patients receiving home palliative care (PC).