Determinants of the effect of existential behavioral therapy for bereaved partners: a qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Informal caregivers of palliative patients took part in existential behavioral therapy (EBT), a group intervention comprising mindfulness exercises to reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined what the participants perceived as helpful to cope with their loss during the first year of bereavement, particularly with regard to the EBT intervention.


METHODS
Sixteen problem-centered, semi-structured interviews were evaluated with content analysis.


RESULTS
Two main categories were found: social support and self-regulation. Social support includes sense of belonging as well as emotional, cognitive, and practical help experienced from others. Mindfulness and acceptance, a clear focus on the positive, and orientation toward the future were helpful strategies of self-regulation; these were also part of the EBT intervention. Mindfulness was understood as permitting emotions and acceptance of one's inner processes, even if they were not pleasant, and was found to be helpful to stop ruminative thinking.


CONCLUSIONS
The categories considered as being helpful parallel core elements of EBT and recent grief theories. The intervention was found to be supportive and met the needs of the participants. The interviewees appreciated the continuity of EBT support from palliative care into bereavement.
1 Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University of Munich , Munich, Germany .
Monika
M
Kögler
Jürgen
J
Brandl
Monika
M
Brandstätter
Gian Domenico
GD
Borasio
Martin Johannes
MJ
Fegg
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005086:Existentialism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012650:Self Disclosure; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support