Short-term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Serious Physical Illness

Last updated: March 25, 2025
Sponsor: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Overall Status: Active - Not Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Neoplasms

Carcinoma

Cancer Treatment

Treatment

Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for patients with serious physical illness (ORPHYS)

Clinical Study ID

NCT05520281
DKH70113404-2
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Life-threatening physical illness may powerfully re-activate existential conflict. There is little evidence to date on the effectiveness of relationship-focused therapies in this patient group.The aim of this study is to pilot a psychodynamic treatment for patients with advanced cancer and high psychological distress.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years and older

  • UICC stage IV solid tumor

  • Informed consent

  • Current physical condition that allows for at least 12 therapy sessions

  • Indication: Presence of a mental disorder with existential stress and limitations incoping capacity

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute suicidality

  • Psychotic disorder (ICD-10: F2 diagnosis)

  • Substance dependence or abuse (ICD-10: F1 diagnosis)

  • Structural deficits that interfere with attending to regular appointments

  • Other psychotherapeutic treatment

  • Severe cognitive impairment

  • Severe physical impairment

  • Insufficient German to give informed consent and complete self-report questionnaires

Study Design

Total Participants: 50
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for patients with serious physical illness (ORPHYS)
Phase:
Study Start date:
September 15, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
July 31, 2025

Study Description

Severely physically ill patients may experience existential distress symptoms including helplessness, hopelessness, death anxiety, perceived burdensomeness and a sense of pointlessness. The latter can significantly interfere with end-of-life care processes and outcomes (receipt of treatment according to preferences, expression of desire for hastened death). So far, empirically tested psychotherapeutic programs in advanced life-threatening illness have predominantly been ultra-short and applied supportive and resource-oriented techniques. Psychodynamic treatment allows to address clinically significant existential distress through its conceptualization from early relational life experiences.

The aim of this study is to pilot a psychodynamic treatment for patients with advanced cancer and high psychological distress.The inverstigators will

  1. analyse the feasibility of the treatment, and

  2. investigate changes in process- and patient-relevant outcomes over the course of the treatment

The inverstigators will conduct a single-group pre-post study with five assessment points in which 50 adult patients diagnosed with advanced cancer will receive a manualized psychodynamic short-term therapy. Target parameters are assessed by diagnostic interviews, focus interviews, self-assessment questionnaires as well as electronic patient records. For research objective b) the investigators will compare the intervention group with a matched comparison group of a longitudinal cohort sample (NCT04600206). Matching will be based on stress level, demographic, and medical parameters across the 5 assessment points.

Connect with a study center

  • Clinical Institute for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf, 40225
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Department of Medical Psychology

    Hamburg, 20246
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Institute of Social Work, University of Kassel

    Kassel, 34127
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Psychosomatics, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Medicine II, University of Würzburg

    Würzburg, 97080
    Germany

    Site Not Available

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