Module 4

Chronic and Serious Illness

Did You Know?

“A study in 382 outpatients with advanced cancer found significant death anxiety in 27% of the study participants. Dignity-related concerns, such as perceived burdensomeness, were reported by up to 23% of the patients, while 8% experienced a significantly impaired sense of dignity. Other related categories of existential concerns include unpreparedness at the end of life (31%), loss of control (16%), isolation (22%), uncompleted life tasks (7%) and loss of continuity (loss of role, loss of enjoyable activity and loss of being oneself) (10%)” (Philipp et al., 2021).

Did You Know?

“A study in 382 outpatients with advanced cancer found significant death anxiety in 27% of the study participants. Dignity-related concerns, such as perceived burdensomeness, were reported by up to 23% of the patients, while 8% experienced a significantly impaired sense of dignity. Other related categories of existential concerns include unpreparedness at the end of life (31%), loss of control (16%), isolation (22%), uncompleted life tasks (7%) and loss of continuity (loss of role, loss of enjoyable activity and loss of being oneself) (10%)” (Philipp et al., 2021).

Module Description

In this module, we will explore chronic and serious illness. Unlike treating other mental health conditions, chronic and serious illness doesn’t seek to treat the underlying condition or the symptoms. Existential therapy focuses on helping clients work away from existential distress and demoralization and work towards self-determination.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

  • Apply existential therapy, supportive and expressive therapy, and mindfulness to psychedelic-assisted therapy for clients with chronic and serious illness.

  • Explain the difference between depression and demoralization for the purposes of treating existential distress.

References

Philipp, R., Kalendar, A., Härter, M., Bokemeyer, C., Oechsle, Koch, U., Vehling, S. (2021). Existential distress in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers: study protocol of a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open, 11(046351).