The effect of transpersonal group psychotherapy on depression, anxiety and post-traumatic disorder on cancer patients

Psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are very common among cancer patients. The purpose of this study consists of proving the effect of transpersonal group psychotherapy on depression, anxiety, stress, spirituality and peak experiences, in cancer patients in complete remission. Materials and Methods : Ten patients were voluntarily enrolled, 8 women and 2 men; affected by different types of cancer: 5 of the breast, 1 uterus, 1 rhino-pharyngeal, 1 colon, 1 lung, 1 chronic myeloid leukemia. All patients were treated with the therapies provided by the actual guidelines: surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and hormone therapy. The group psychotherapy lasted 3 years with a total of about 120 sessions and the approach was trans-personal. During the sessions specific techniques were used such as: creative meditations and bioenergetics. The methods we used to evaluate the type of disorders and the effect of the therapy were: Beck Depression Inventory Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Impact Event Scale Revisited, Spiritual Well Being Scale and a valuation of Peak experience. Results: There was shown to be a general improvement in all domains studied. The depressive disorder is reduced with a starting average of 16.87 and a subsequent score of 9.25 (sd± 5,6). The symptoms related to anxiety are reduced, with a score ranging from 25,64 to 17,37 (sd± 10,54). The post traumatic disorder goes from 44.87 (sd ±33.43) to 29 (sd± 17.51; p = 0.02) at the second evaluation. In addition, 5 patients had peak experiences. We also found an increase in spirituality with a score from 13 to 20. Discussion: Several studies affirm that a significant frequency of anxiety, depression and low quality of life influences cancer patients. This study shows that a trans-personal psychotherapy of a group is effective on anxiety and depression, post-traumatic disorder, spirituality and peak experiences. Conclusions: a group psychotherapeutic approach with transpersonal model may improve life in patients with cancer, reducing symptoms such as anxiety and depression and increases spiritual well-being. Although the few patients studied.