Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of meaning-centered group psychotherapy in cancer survivors: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Nadia van der Spek
  • Joël Vos
  • Cornelia F. van Uden-Kraan
  • William Breitbart
  • Pim Cuijpers
  • Kitty Knipscheer-Kuipers
  • Vincent Willemsen
  • Rob A. E. M. Tollenaar
  • Christi J. van Asperen
  • Irma M. Verdonck-de Leeuw
Background: Meaning-focused coping may be at the core of adequate adjustment to life after cancer. Cancer survivors who experience their life as meaningful are better adjusted, have better quality of life and psychological functioning. Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy for Cancer Survivors (MCGP-CS) was designed to help patients to sustain or enhance a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. The aim of the proposed study is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of MCGP-CS. Methods/Design: Survivors diagnosed with cancer in the last 5 years and treated with curative intent, are recruited via several hospitals in the Netherlands. After screening, 168 survivors are randomly assigned to one of the three study arms: 1. Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP-CS) 2. Supportive group psychotherapy (SGP) 3. Care as usual (CAU). Baseline assessment takes place before randomisation, with follow up assessments post-intervention and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up. Primary outcome is meaning making (PMP, PTGI, SPWB). Secondary outcome measures address quality of life (EORTC-30), anxiety and depression (HADS), hopelessness (BHS), optimism (LOT-R), adjustment to cancer (MAC), and costs (TIC-P, EQ-5D, PRODISQ). Discussion: Meaning-focused coping is key to adjustment to life after cancer, however, there is a lack of evidence based psychological interventions in this area. Many cancer survivors experience feelings of loneliness and alienation, and have a need for peer support, therefore a group method in particular, can be beneficial for sustaining or enhancing a sense of meaning. If this MCGP-CS is effective for cancer survivors, it can be implemented in the practice of psycho-oncology care.
Original languageEnglish
Article number22
JournalBMC Psychiatry
Volume14
Issue number1
Number of pages8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28.01.2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study is funded by the Dutch Cancer Society/Alpe d’HuZes/KWF Fund.

    Research areas

  • Psychology
  • Health sciences
  • Cancer, Cost-effectiveness, Effectiveness, Existential distress, Group psychotherapy, Meaning, Psycho-oncology, Survivorship

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