Cited by 52Palliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesPalliative and Oncologic CareIdentity, Memory, and Therapy

The efficacy of Life Review Therapy combined with Memory Specificity Training (LRT-MST) targeting cancer patients in palliative care: A randomized controlled trial

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Kleijn, Gitta, Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I., Bohlmeijer, Ernst T., Steunenberg, Bas, Knipscheer-Kuijpers, Kitty, Willemsen, Vincent, Becker, Annemarie, Smit, Egbert F. +8 more·2018·PLOS ONE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention combining Life Review Therapy (LRT) and Memory Specificity Training (MST) (LRT-MST) to improve ego-integrity and despair among cancer patients in palliative care. METHODS: In this multicentre randomized controlled trial, cancer patients in palliative care were randomized to the intervention group (LRT-MST; n = 55) or waiting-list control group (n = 52). LRT-MST is a 4-session home-based psychological intervention that aims to retrieve specific positive memories, to re-evaluate life events and to reconstruct the story of a patient's life, including the diagnosis of incurable cancer. Outcome measures were ego-integrity and despair (NEIS), psychological distress, anxiety and depression (HADS), quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL), and specificity of the autobiographical memory (AMT). NEIS, HADS and EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL were assessed at baseline (T0), 1 month later (post-treatment; T1), and at 1 month follow-up (T2). AMT was assessed at T0 and T1. Linear mixed models (intention to treat) were used to assess group differences in changes over time. Independent samples t-tests were used to assess group differences at T0, T1, and T2, and effect sizes (ES) were calculated at T1 and T2. RESULTS: The course of ego-integrity (not despair) improved significantly over time (p = .007) in the intervention group compared to the waiting-list control group, with moderate, but insignificant, effect sizes at T1 (ES = .42) and T2 (ES = .48). Compliance rate was 69% and total dropout rate was 28%, both primarily related to disease progression and death. CONCLUSIONS: LRT-MST seems effective among cancer patients in palliative care to improve the course of ego-integrity.

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  1. [33]Bohlmeijer ET, Steunenberg B, Leontjevas R, Mahler M, Daniël R, Gerritsen D. Dierbare herinneringen Protocol voor individuele life-review therapie gebaseerd op autobiografische oefening. Enschede: Universiteit Twente; 2010.

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Authors
Kleijn, G., Lissenberg-Witte, B. I., Bohlmeijer, E. T., Steunenberg, B., Knipscheer-Kuijpers, K., Willemsen, V., Becker, A., Smit, E. F., Eeltink, C. M., Bruynzeel, A. M. E., van der Vorst, M., de Bree, R., Leemans, C. R., van den Brekel, M. W. M., Cuijpers, P., & Verdonck-de Leeuw, I. M.
Affiliations
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
  • Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
  • University of Twente (NL)
  • University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (NL)
Venue
PLOS ONE
Published
2018-05-15
Volume
13
Issue
5
Pages
e0197277
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2803983735
Cited by
52
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 5
FWCI
5.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • University of Twente Research Information (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • University of Twente Research Information (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
ZonMw (11510003)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
Keywords
life review therapy, memory specificity training, palliative care, cancer patients, ego integrity, despair, autobiographical memory, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, end-of-life care
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Depression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Palliative Care, Psychotherapy, Quality of Life, Stress, Psychological, Linear Models, Treatment Outcome, Memory, Episodic

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