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Existential Distress in Advanced Cancer: Comparing a Short-term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (ORPHYS) to Treatment as Usual (TAU)

RecruitingNAAges 18 Years - anyAllUniversitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
NCT07312760 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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In plain words

What the trial is, and whether it could suit you

The psychological challenges faced by patients with incurable cancer and their caregivers include an uncertain future, fear of dying and uncontrollable suffering, grief, and loneliness. In a significant subgroup, this challenge is associated with significant fear and existential distress. This distress can manifest itself, for example, in the form of demoralization, a state of despair and hopelessness in which the possibilities for coping seem exhausted. Although open discussions about fears at the end of life are becoming increasingly important, little is known about how patients with high existential distress can best be supported to promote quality of life. The aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of the newly developed individual psychotherapy ORPHYS (ShORt-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in serious PHYSical illness) in reducing existential distress. To this end, a randoml

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📋 Eligibility rules (as published)
Inclusion Criteria: * UICC stage III/IV solid tumor or advanced hematological cancer * Physical condition at beginning of treatment sufficient for outpatient treatment * Existential distress due to at least one of the following concerns: loss of hope, demoralization, fear of the future, loneliness, death anxiety, sense of isolation, death wishes * Severity of distress: significant subjective distress and impairment in functioning Exclusion Criteria: * Acute suicidality with concrete or impending intent to follow through (suicide plan) * diagnosis of a substance dependence, substance abuse, or psychotic disorder (exception: tobacco-related disorders) * Inability to adhere to a psychotherapeutic setting * Other current psychotherapeutic or psycho-oncological treatment according to TAU definition * Insufficient German to give informed consent and complete self-report questionnaires
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What it tests

  • ORPHYS (ShORt-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in serious PHYSical illness)
  • TAU (Treatment As Usual: Standard psycho-oncological care)
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Where

3 sites
Clinical Institute for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, Germany
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Hamburg, Germany
Psychosomatics, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Medicine II, University of Würzburg
Würzburg, Germany
🤝 Taking part is your choice, and you can leave at any time. Only the trial team can confirm you are eligible — always decide together with your own doctor.
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