In this paper, we describe the basic tenets of existentialism. Then we describe the issue of meaning, a construct involving three components: 1) meaning arising from perception of the way the world manifests itself to us; 2) meaning as a sense of "purpose" and 3) meaning deriving from a personal construct, related to one's life story. In addition, meaning involves two perspectives: a global perspective about the world and the self i.e. global meaning, and a perspective related to circumstances, such as trauma or grief (meaning making). In this latter case, it consists in a way of coping often involving spiritual beliefs, and aims to adapt to the situation. Global meaning has been shown to be altered in disorders such as schizophrenia. Concerning meaning-making, many patients with schizophrenia incorporate a spiritual vision of their illness, which entailed positive or negative consequences in terms of coping. Finally we give some examples illustrating how meaning and meaning-making arise in the lives of patients with schizophrenia, followed by some recommendations for the clinicians.

Human ; Schizophrenia ; Psychotherapy ; Psychotic Disorders ; Existentialism ; Mental Disorders

OBJECTIVE: Personality is defined as the trait-like qualities of a person. However, it has been recently suggested that the state effect of a situation leads to changes in scores on personality assessments. We predicted that traumatic experiences would induce changes not only in personality scores but also in the factor structures of personality assessments. METHODS: MethodsaaWe conducted a cross-sectional, case-controlled study using two data sets: a traumatized adolescent sample (n=71) and a non-traumatized adolescent sample (n=296). Personality factor structures were compared between the two samples using exploratory factor analyses for 25 lower-ordered subscales of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). In the non-traumatized sample, evaluation of the scree plot suggested a five-factor solution supporting TCI's original seven-factor model. RESULTS: The traumatized sample showed a three-factor structure representing a biological factor, a social factor and an existential factor. This decrease in number of personality factors was caused by strengthened correlations among personality subscales related to coping with traumatic situations. Cloninger's psychobiological model of personality (i.e., temperament-character) was adequate in capturing personality traits of non-traumatized adolescents, but the tripartite view of existential psychology (i.e., body-mind-spirit) clearly corresponded to the factor structure of the traumatized adolescents. CONCLUSION: The three-factor solution of the present traumatized group is consistent with the tripartite model of personality (i.e., body-mind-spirit), while the five-factor solution of the non-traumatized group corresponds to Cloninger's seven-factor model. This is the first study to describe the state effects of traumatic experiences on personality structure.
Adolescent ; Biological Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; Existentialism ; Humans ; Personality Assessment ; Temperament

Spiritual care is at the center of hospice and palliative care. Patients facing serious and life-threatening illness have important needs in regard to faith, hope, and existential concerns. The purpose of this article is to review the key aspects of this care, including the definitions of spirituality, spiritual assessment, and spiritual care interventions. A review of the current literature was conducted to identify content related to spiritual care in hospice and palliative care. A growing body of evidence supports the importance of spiritual care as a key domain of quality palliative care. The literature supports the importance of spiritual assessment as a key aspect of comprehensive patient and family assessment. Spirituality encompasses religious concerns as well as other existential issues. Future research and clinical practice should test models of best support to provide spiritual care.
Existentialism ; Hope ; Hospice Care ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Palliative Care* ; Spirituality

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of meaning-centered therapy (MCT) on depressive symptoms in adults and older adults, excluding cancer patients.METHODS: Ten databases were systematically to extract peer-reviewed journal articles and dissertations in Korean or English. Two independent researchers assessed the risk of bias and the quality of the report using Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network criteria.RESULTS: A total of 12 (five Korean and seven non-Korean) studies were finally selected after removing 66 of the 78 studies assessed for eligibility due to inappropriate subject inclusion and research design. Eleven studies reported that MCT was effective in reducing depressive symptoms, except for one study using web-based MCT for cancer caregivers. Those studies also showed that the effects remained at the patient follow-up sessions.CONCLUSION: The reviewed studies provide evidence suggesting that MCT may be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in adults and older adults. However, it is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of on-line MCT on the depressive symptom reduction in the future.
Adult ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Caregivers ; Depression ; Existentialism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Psychotherapy ; Research Design

Dyspnea is a subjective, multidimensional experience of breathing discomfort, influenced by physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors, which includes secondary psychological and behavioral responses and cannot be defined only by physical objective abnormalities. It has been found to create barriers in daily life among patients with advanced lung cancer which interferes with physical activities such as walking, work, and psychological activities such as disposition, taking pleasure in life, relationship with others, and sleep. This paper aims to identify current theoretical and operational definitions of dyspnea and to identify and describe defining attributes of dyspnea. The method of inquiry was guided by Walker and Avant's (2011) approach to concept analysis. From this analysis, a conceptual model of dyspnea experience within the core of patients with advanced lung cancer may include attributes of dyspnea occurrence and distress as not only the physiological, psychological, and environmental, but also the situational existential meaning or perception of individual suffering from dyspnea. Dyspnea is a symptom that is usually under-diagnosed and inadequately managed due to lack of recognition or availability of interventions. The impact of dyspnea management on the quality of life in advanced lung cancer patients requires more recognition and better quality of care. Despite the frequency and complexity of this symptom, little research has been conducted to specifically identify effective treatment in patients with advanced lung cancer. Further investigations are needed in this area to assert the total dyspnea experience that could be influential in regards to the impact of dyspnea management on the quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer. 

Human ; Male ; Aged ; Walking ; Pleasure ; Quality Of Life ; Dyspnea ; Lung ; Existentialism ; Stress, Psychological ; Lung Neoplasms ; Quality Of Health Care

Dyspnea is a subjective, multidimensional experience of breathing discomfort, influenced by physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors, which includes secondary psychological and behavioral responses and cannot be defined only by physical objective abnormalities. It has been found to create barriers in daily life among patients with advanced lung cancer which interferes with physical activities such as walking, work, and psychological activities such as disposition, taking pleasure in life, relationship with others, and sleep. This paper aims to identify current theoretical and operational definitions of dyspnea and to identify and describe defining attributes of dyspnea. The method of inquiry was guided by Walker and Avant's (2011) approach to concept analysis. From this analysis, a conceptual model of dyspnea experience within the core of patients with advanced lung cancer may include attributes of dyspnea occurrence and distress as not only the physiological, psychological, and environmental, but also the situational existential meaning or perception of individual suffering from dyspnea. Dyspnea is a symptom that is usually under-diagnosed and inadequately managed due to lack of recognition or availability of interventions. The impact of dyspnea management on the quality of life in advanced lung cancer patients requires more recognition and better quality of care. Despite the frequency and complexity of this symptom, little research has been conducted to specifically identify effective treatment in patients with advanced lung cancer. Further investigations are needed in this area to assert the total dyspnea experience that could be influential in regards to the impact of dyspnea management on the quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer. 

Human ; Male ; Aged ; Walking ; Pleasure ; Quality Of Life ; Dyspnea ; Lung ; Existentialism ; Stress, Psychological ; Lung Neoplasms ; Quality Of Health Care

PURPOSE: Korean American women have twice the rate of cervical cancer than white women and demonstrate low rates in participation in cervical cancer screening. This study was to describe the perceptions about cervical cancer and factors related to cervical cancer screening among Korean American women. METHOD: Focus group methods. RESULT: Five themes emerged. First, knowledge about cervical cancer; misconceptions about cervical cancer, its causes, reproductive anatomy and the treatment Second, perceived meanings of having cervical cancer; most of the women felt that cervical cancer represented a loss of femininity and existential value of womanhood. Third, knowledge about cervical cancer screening ; regular medical check-ups were necessary for early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. Forth, experiences and perceived meanings of cervical cancer screening; the participants expressed their feelings; embarrassment, fear, shame and shyness. Fifth, practices of cervical cancer screening; various intervals in participating in cervical cancer screening. But they mentioned several deterrents, language, insurance, time constraint, embarrassment, fear of the screening results, misbelief about susceptibility, lack of health prevention behavior, and lack of information written in Korean. CONCLUSION: Results emphasize the critical need for culturally appropriate health education to encourage participation of Korean American women in cervical cancer screening.
Adult ; Aged ; *Asian Americans/education/ethnology/statistics & numerical data ; Communication Barriers ; Existentialism/psychology ; Fear/psychology ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Gender Identity ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea/ethnology ; *Mass Screening/psychology/utilization ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/*ethnology/statistics & numerical data ; Patient Education as Topic/standards ; Qualitative Research ; Questionnaires ; Shame ; Shyness ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*diagnosis/ethnology ; *Vaginal Smears/psychology/utilization ; Washington/epidemiology