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Psychological aspects of meaning-centered group psychotherapy: Spanish experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2017

Clara Fraguell ,
Joaquín T. Limonero  and
Francisco Gil
Clara Fraguell
Affiliation:
Stress and Health Research Group, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
Joaquín T. Limonero*
Affiliation:
Stress and Health Research Group, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
Francisco Gil
Affiliation:
Stress and Health Research Group, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain Psycho-Oncology Unit, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Institut Català d'Oncologia, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Joaquín T. Limonero, Stress and Health Research Group, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallés), Barcelona, Spain. E-Mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

Objective:

Our aim was to identify the themes that arise when applying adapted meaning-centered group psychotherapy (MCGP) in Spanish-speaking advanced cancer patients.

Method:

A mixed qualitative–quantitative analysis was performed on the transcripts of interviews with 22 advanced cancer patients who had been assigned to three MCGP subgroups.

Results:

We found six new emergent themes in addition to the originally constructed themes of MCGP. Threat and uncertainty were the two most frequent emergent issues for our Spanish patients.

Significance of results:

The implementation of MCGP in Spanish patients validated the themes proposed by Breitbart and colleagues' foundational work on MCGP and also suggested new issues relevant to patient well-being (classified as “emergent themes”). Taking our findings into account, we propose that these new themes be considered in the Spanish adaptation of MCGP as well as in future adaptations of this form of psychotherapy in treating Latin American patients.

Keywords

Group therapyAdvanced cancerMeaningPsychotherapy
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , June 2018 , pp. 317 - 324
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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