TY - JOUR
T1 - The efficacy of Life Review Therapy combined with Memory Specificity Training (LRT-MST) targeting cancer patients in palliative care
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Kleijn, Gitta
AU - Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I.
AU - Bohlmeijer, Ernst T.
AU - Steunenberg, Bas
AU - Knipscheer-Kuijpers, Kitty
AU - Willemsen, Vincent
AU - Becker, Annemarie
AU - Smit, Egbert F.
AU - Eeltink, Corien M.
AU - Bruynzeel, Anna M.E.
AU - van der Vorst, Maurice
AU - de Bree, Remco
AU - René Leemans, C.
AU - van den Brekel, Michiel W.M.
AU - Cuijpers, Pim
AU - Verdonck-de Leeuw, Irma M.
PY - 2018/5/15
Y1 - 2018/5/15
N2 - Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention combining Life Review Therapy (LRT) and Memory Specificity Training (MST) (LRT-MST) to improve ego-integrity and despair among cancer patients in palliative care. Methods In this multicentre randomized controlled trial, cancer patients in palliative care were randomized to the intervention group (LRT-MST; n = 55) or waiting-list control group (n = 52). LRT-MST is a 4-session home-based psychological intervention that aims to retrieve specific positive memories, to re-evaluate life events and to reconstruct the story of a patient’s life, including the diagnosis of incurable cancer. Outcome measures were ego-integrity and despair (NEIS), psychological distress, anxiety and depression (HADS), quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL), and specificity of the autobiographical memory (AMT). NEIS, HADS and EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL were assessed at baseline (T0), 1 month later (post-treatment; T1), and at 1 month follow-up (T2). AMT was assessed at T0 and T1. Linear mixed models (intention to treat) were used to assess group differences in changes over time. Independent samples t-tests were used to assess group differences at T0, T1, and T2, and effect sizes (ES) were calculated at T1 and T2. Results The course of ego-integrity (not despair) improved significantly over time (p = .007) in the intervention group compared to the waiting-list control group, with moderate, but insignificant, effect sizes at T1 (ES = .42) and T2 (ES = .48). Compliance rate was 69% and total dropout rate was 28%, both primarily related to disease progression and death. Conclusions LRT-MST seems effective among cancer patients in palliative care to improve the course of ego-integrity.
AB - Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention combining Life Review Therapy (LRT) and Memory Specificity Training (MST) (LRT-MST) to improve ego-integrity and despair among cancer patients in palliative care. Methods In this multicentre randomized controlled trial, cancer patients in palliative care were randomized to the intervention group (LRT-MST; n = 55) or waiting-list control group (n = 52). LRT-MST is a 4-session home-based psychological intervention that aims to retrieve specific positive memories, to re-evaluate life events and to reconstruct the story of a patient’s life, including the diagnosis of incurable cancer. Outcome measures were ego-integrity and despair (NEIS), psychological distress, anxiety and depression (HADS), quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL), and specificity of the autobiographical memory (AMT). NEIS, HADS and EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL were assessed at baseline (T0), 1 month later (post-treatment; T1), and at 1 month follow-up (T2). AMT was assessed at T0 and T1. Linear mixed models (intention to treat) were used to assess group differences in changes over time. Independent samples t-tests were used to assess group differences at T0, T1, and T2, and effect sizes (ES) were calculated at T1 and T2. Results The course of ego-integrity (not despair) improved significantly over time (p = .007) in the intervention group compared to the waiting-list control group, with moderate, but insignificant, effect sizes at T1 (ES = .42) and T2 (ES = .48). Compliance rate was 69% and total dropout rate was 28%, both primarily related to disease progression and death. Conclusions LRT-MST seems effective among cancer patients in palliative care to improve the course of ego-integrity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047134072&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0197277
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0197277
M3 - Article
C2 - 29763431
AN - SCOPUS:85047134072
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 13
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 5
M1 - e0197277
ER -
