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Related Concept Videos

Humanistic Therapy01:24

Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic therapies emphasize personal growth, self-understanding, and the fulfillment of human potential. Rooted in the belief that individuals inherently strive toward self-actualization, these approaches encourage clients to explore their feelings and experiences in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment. Humanistic therapies differ from psychodynamic approaches by focusing on conscious experiences, present circumstances, and the potential for self-improvement rather than past conflicts...
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Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
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Published on: September 28, 2018

The relief of existential suffering.

David W Kissane1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. david.kissane@monash.edu

Archives of Internal Medicine
|September 5, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Physicians can help patients manage existential distress from advanced illnesses by understanding common challenges like death anxiety and loss of control. Recognizing these issues aids in promoting peace and maintaining life

Area of Science:

  • Palliative Care
  • Psychiatry
  • Existential Psychology

Background:

  • Advanced illnesses often cause significant existential suffering.
  • Physicians require tools to recognize and manage this distress effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a typology of existential challenges faced by patients with advanced illnesses.
  • To guide physicians in recognizing and managing existential distress.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative analysis of patient experiences and physician observations.
  • Development of a framework categorizing existential distress.

Main Results:

  • Identified eight major forms of existential challenge: death anxiety, loss/change, control issues, self-dignity, aloneness, relationship changes, search for meaning, and the unknowable.

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  • Adaptive responses foster equanimity, fulfillment, and engagement with life.

    • Conclusions:

    • A clear typology of existential distress aids physicians in patient care.
    • Nurturing courage, meaning, value, and purpose is crucial for patient well-being.