Time-Limited Supportive Psychotherapy When You Have Limited Time

Clinicians treating advanced cancer patients encounter many challenges, including few empirically-supported interventions, uncertain time frames in which to conduct therapy, and disease progression. Recently, several manualized treatments have been developed for this vulnerable population. Our goal is to present a time-limited, manualized individual supportive psychotherapy (ISP) intervention designed to reduce symptoms of psychological distress in advanced cancer patients. Qualitative observations from exemplary cases will also be presented. ISP is part of a three-arm randomized controlled trial evaluating psychosocial interventions for advanced cancer patients currently in its preliminary stages. Psychological distress is measured by a battery of self-report measures. ISP which primarily utilizes Rogerian and supportive-expressive techniques consists of seven weekly sessions structured to maintain focus on coping with cancer, encourage intimacy, reduce isolation, foster expression of emotion and provide support. Although ISP is not a directive therapy, clinicians noted that study participants reported significant life changes (i.e., improved communication and coping, increased acceptance, reduced anxiety, resolving unfinished business) within the short-term therapy. Patients responded to active listening and affect-focused techniques by identifying goals and initiating life changes. Challenges included termination and coping with patients' increased symptom burden. The time-limited nature of this therapy and flexible format allows patients to identify goals and provides the impetus to make life changes. The current study will provide empirical data on a manualized therapy that can be used in both clinical and research settings. ISP differs from the care typically provided in a counseling center because it is time-limited, whereas clinicians providing supportive care to advanced cancer patients typically continue to provide care throughout the duration of the patient's illness. Planned quantitative analysis following study completion will evaluate ISP relative to other psychosocial interventions for advanced cancer patients. Additionally, these analyses will help to identify the mechanisms of change in ISP. The manualized nature of the therapy allows for use in other research settings. Clinicians often struggle to treat the psychosocial needs of advanced cancer patients. ISP is a manualized intervention which could be utilized to provide standardized trai