Related Experiment Videos
Existential Suffering: Intensive Caring and Existential Therapy Informed Communication for Serious Illness Care
Elise Tarbi1, Marianne Sofronas2, Danielle Chammas3,4
1Department of Nursing, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Serious illness often brings existential suffering, involving questions of meaning and mortality. This study offers communication strategies to help patients find meaning and ease distress during end-of-life care.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Psychology
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Existential concerns regarding meaning, purpose, and mortality are prevalent in serious illness.
- The experience of these concerns varies among patients and throughout the course of illness, ranging from distress to growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the dimensions and cues of existential suffering in serious illness using a clinical case.
- To enhance therapeutic approaches in serious illness care by recognizing existential distress.
- To provide practical communication strategies for palliative care.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a clinical composite case to identify existential suffering.
- Application of existential principles, Intensive Caring, and Dignity in Care tenets.
- Development of psychotherapeutically informed communication strategies.
Main Results:
- Identified key dimensions and cues of existential suffering in serious illness.
- Demonstrated how recognizing existential distress can inform therapeutic interventions.
- Offered practical language and communication techniques for clinicians.
Conclusions:
- Recognizing and addressing existential suffering is crucial in serious illness care.
- Existential principles and specific care tenets can guide effective communication.
- Communication strategies can support patients in living meaningfully and easing suffering at the end of life.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Continuing Care
Continuing care describes the variety of health, personal, and social services provided over a prolonged period. The need for continuing care is increasing because people are living longer. Many people do not have families or others to care for them. Continuing care is mainly for patients who are disabled, functionally dependent, or suffering from a terminal disease. It is available within institutional settings or in homes. Examples include nursing centers or facilities, assisted living,...
01:15Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
01:24Humanistic 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...
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:25Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.