Meaning centered psychotherapy: A review of psychotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: to present the psychotherapeutic strategies used in the treatment of cancer patients, whose purpose is to work in the meaning of life. Method: A systematic review was performed in the PROSPERO with the number CRD42019132385 registry, following the PRISMA method, based on Lilacs, Medline, Scopus and Web of Science. Results: 11 articles published between 2014 and 2020 were included. Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) is the most used and effective psychotherapeutic strategy to help the patient about their meaning in life. Discussion: Three categories have been developed: 1. Find the meaning of life through MCP; 2. Spiritual and psychological wellbeing of the MCP and 3. Individual, group and couple therapies as effective strategies for the MCP. Conclusions: This study shows that MCP, in addition to being beneficial for patients, could serve as an alternative work for the psychologist, especially in regions of the Portuguese language where no studies were found.