Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “EXISTENTIALISM”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,063 records · Page 59Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Meaning and purpose in life and well-being: a life-span perspective.

Three hundred men and women at five developmental stages from young adulthood to the old-old completed measures of life attitudes and well-being. Significant age differences were found on five life attitude dimensions: Life Purpose (LP), Death Acceptance (DA), Goal Seeking (GS), Future Meaning (FM), and Existential Vacuum (EV). LP and DA increased with age; GS and FM decreased with age; EV showed a curvilinear relationship with age. Significant sex differences were found for Life Control (LC) and Will To Meaning (WM). Women viewed life as more under their control and expressed a stronger will to find meaning as compared with males. FM, LP, and LC were found to predict psychological and physical well-being; EV, GS, and DA predicted psychological and physical discomfort. Preliminary findings attest to the importance of various life attitudes in promoting health and wellness.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

A comprehensive, stage-sensitive model of grief in dementia caregiving.

PURPOSE: Grief is an overlooked but important element of the caregiver experience. This study defines a model of caregiver grief to aid in clinical intervention and to support further research. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study addressed the grief responses of 87 spouse and adult-child caregivers of patients with progressive dementia representing mild, moderate, severe, and postdeath. Questionnaire data and qualitative findings from 16 semistructured focus group interviews provide the basis for a descriptive model of anticipatory grief in dementia caregiving. RESULTS: Significant differences emerged between spouse and adult-child caregiver groups as a whole and as a function of Clinical Dementia Rating impairment level. Caregiver grief was found to fluctuate between intellectual, affective, and existential poles depending upon current care demands and expectations. IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that anticipatory grief in dementia caregiving is "real" grief, equivalent in intensity and breadth to death-related grief.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1999

Caregiver meaning: a study of caregivers of individuals with mental illness.

The study discussed in this article examined caregiver meaning. Study participants were individuals paid and supported by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Homeshare program to provide care in their home for an individual with severe mental illness. A structured questionnaire and interviews were used to develop categories and themes about caregiver meaning. Quantitative and qualitative analyses yielded three categories of caregiver meaning: other-directed-altruistic, self-directed-self-actualization, and existential-purpose in life. Caregivers most often referred to altruistic themes, with the most common one being "helping others." The next most common themes were "home and family" and "making a difference." Caregiving difficulties also were categorized. Social work implications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Intrafamilial sperm donation: ethical questions and concerns.

Sperm donation seems to be the only solution in cases of negative results with testicular sperm extraction (TESE). However, it implies a genetic dissociation between husband and offspring that results in psychological stress, as well as ethical and existential dilemmas for the couple. Facing these dilemmas, some couples prefer father-to-son donation as an alternative solution. However, father-to-son sperm donation involves many potential medical, ethical and emotional risks. A broad discussion within the scientific community on these issues should contribute towards a better approach of these cases.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed1987

Foucault's critique of psychiatric medicine.

From his earliest published work, Mental Illness and Personality (1954), to his last project, The History of Sexuality, Foucault was critical of the human sciences as a dubious and dangerous attempt to model a science of human beings on the natural sciences. He therefore preferred existential therapy, which did not attempt to give a causal account of human nature, but rather described the general structure of the human way of being and its possible distortions. Foucault focused his attack on psychiatry, which claimed to have an explanation of normal and abnormal functioning of the personality modeled on medicine. Freud typified for him this deep mistake which he traced first to the Kantian understanding of human beings as transcendental/empirical doubles which must think their own unthought, and then later to the gradually developing confessional practices which lead people in our culture to try unsuccessfully to put all their desires into words so as to conform to the norms of psychoanalysis which in turn are based on an account of sexuality as a cause of personality. Foucault proposed his genealogical account of how our culture arrived at this view of man as sexual being as a form of therapy which was to help us free ourselves from this restrictive self-interpretation.

France↗
PubMed1981

Medical foundations of various approaches to medical-ethic decision-making.

Philosophers have long recognized that the unique values of the individual physician effect medical-ethical decision-making. While not taking issue with this basic assumption, this article critically examines one discussion of how different philosophies (existential, utilitarian, and value realist) can influence a neurosurgeon's decision to operate upon a person having a malignant brain tumor. It also delineates and discusses a fund of "medical wisdom" commonly available to any neurosurgeon and easily obtainable by both researcher and patient. The article suggests that those in the humanities interested in studying the ethical decision-making process in a medical subspecialty become familiar with this fund of knowledge. It can provide a base for evaluating when and how individual medical decisions vary. In this specific instance, the medical knowledge base was used to direct attention to when and how ethical issues are identified and resolved within the staff clinical neurosurgical setting. An informal survey among resident and staff neurosurgeons supported the conclusions that philosophical analyses of medical-ethical decision-making are appreciated when case examples are carefully and accurately documented, when medical terminology is used correctly and when recognition of the practical limits placed on medical decision-making is given.

Decision Making↗
PubMed2006

Values in persons with schizophrenia.

This is an explorative study on the values of persons with schizophrenia based on transcripts of individual therapy sessions conducted for 40 persons with chart diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizotypal disorder. Values are action-guiding attitudes that subject human activities to be worthy of praise or blame. The schizophrenic value system conveys an overall crisis of common sense. The outcome of this has been designated as antagonomia and idionomia. Antagonomia reflects the choice to take an eccentric stand in the face of commonly shared assumptions and the here and now "other." Idionomia reflects the feeling of the radical uniqueness and exceptionality of one's being with respect to common sense and the other human beings. This sentiment of radical exceptionality is felt as a "gift," often in view of an eschatological mission or a vocation to a superior, novel, metaphysical understanding of the world. The aim of this study is neither establishing new diagnostic criteria nor suggesting that values play an etio-pathogenetical role in the development of schizophrenia but improving our understanding of the "meaning" of schizophrenic experiences and beliefs, and by doing so reducing stigmatization, and enhancing the specificity and validity of "psychotic symptoms" (especially bizarre delusions) and of "social and occupational dysfunction" through a detailed description of the anthropological and existential matrix they arise from.

Delusions↗
PubMed1999

Spiraling out of control: one case of pathologic anxiety as a response to a genetic risk of cancer.

The threat of cancer can result in an existential crisis characterized by feelings of uncertainty and fear. Anxiety, the most common response to the threat of cancer, may be expressed in ways as varied as individual personalities and circumstances. It is a normal response to the threat of cancer, but in some it may deteriorate to pathologic anxiety and manifest somatic or avoidant patterns. Members of families diagnosed with genetic mutations that predispose to cancer are unique in that they experience a complex chain of life events. People affected with genetic mutations that increase the risk for the development of cancer may be at greater risk of manifesting abnormal anxiety. Little research exists that can guide the health professional in meeting the needs of these individuals, which leads health practitioners to approach their needs on the basis of combined theoretical assumptions about the needs of people with cancer, people who have family members with cancer, and people with recurrent cancer. Some factors may be assessed by the health professional as an aid in identifying an individual at increased risk of developing a psychopathology. These factors include age and developmental level, existence of a previous psychologic disorder, and family integrity. Advanced practice nurses may effectively intervene in the care of these patients by (a) accurately assessing the risk for and extent of the anxiety reaction in individuals and family members; (b) developing management plans that include ongoing support, education, psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapeutics for the individual; and (c) support and psychotherapy for the family. In this article, the pathologic anxiety experienced by one adolescent girl diagnosed with a genetic mutation that caused multiple endocrine neoplasia 2a is addressed, along with the treatment of her avoidant anxiety disorder--trichotillomania.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

The face of suffering among women with breast cancer-being in a field of forces.

Through qualitative interviews, the suffering experiences of women with breast cancer and their significant others were disclosed. Seventeen women with different stages of breast cancer and 16 significant others from 4 different care cultures in Sweden and Finland participated. Five of the women had advanced metastatic breast cancer, and 12 had a localized disease. Mean age was 48 years. As a methodology, a team approach, inspired by the Vancouver School of Doing Phenomenology, was used. The findings elucidate how the suffering experience touched the women's inner existence and values. This can metaphorically be described as a "field of force" and affected everything in the women's lives, including their views of themselves and their relationships. Existential questions were raised about life and death and the meaning of life. In their suffering, the women's dependency upon significant others, as well as healthcare personnel, was prominent. Suffering related to healthcare was a strong theme. Different faces of suffering related to breast cancer may still be unknown by healthcare professionals working in cancer care.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

The aftermath of lung cancer: balancing the good and bad.

Little is known about the experience of surviving lung cancer because of its low survival rate. However, 14% of the people with a diagnosis of lung cancer become long-term survivors. This study describes the experience of surviving lung cancer as told by a subsample of survivors from a larger quantitative investigation of the quality of life among long-term survivors of lung cancer. The Center for Epidemiologic Survey Depression (CES-D) scale was used to evaluate distressed mood. The Short-Form 36 was used to evaluate quality of life. Handheld spirometry was used to evaluate pulmonary function abnormalities. Interviews were conducted with 29 participants. Qualitative analysis showed that survivors express positive and negative aspects differentially when divided into those with distressed mood (CES-D > or = 16; n = 9) and those not distressed (CES-D < 16; n = 20). Those in the not distressed group talked of their experience in more positive terms around the five central themes than those in the distressed mood group. The central themes that emerged were existential issues, health and self-care, physical ability, adjustment, and support. Subscale scores from the SF-36 were used to enhance the experience description. The results of this study highlight the importance of attending to both the physical and emotional needs of lung cancer survivors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

The altering of reported experiences.

OBJECTIVES: The unreliability of human memory is well documented in the literature, yet psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals rely on patient self-report in history-taking. This study provides new evidence from a longitudinal study of autobiographical memory and discusses implications for the development and implementation of appropriate treatment plans and goals. METHOD: Seventy-three mentally healthy 14-year-old males were studied in 1962. Sixty-seven of these subjects were reinterviewed face-to-face at age 48. Questions concerning areas of family relationships, home environment, dating, sexuality, religion, parental discipline, and general activities were asked in both interviews. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between adult memories of adolescence and what was actually reported during adolescence. Accurate memory was generally no better than expected by chance. CONCLUSIONS: If the accurate memory of one's past is not better than chance in the mentally healthy individual, even more care probably should be taken in obtaining accurate historical information in the medically, psychologically, or otherwise health-compromised individual. It would be more constructive to treat recollections as existential reconstructions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Trauma, resilience and saliostasis: effects of treatment in post-traumatic stress disorder.

There has been growing interest in the concept of resilience and the question as to whether psychotropic medications or psychosocial treatments might have resilience-enhancing effects. This pilot study investigates resilience in a sample of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before and after treatment. Effects of treatment with tiagabine, fluoxetine, sertraline alone, and sertraline with cognitive behavioural therapy on resilience were assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Changes in resilience after treatment were measured and response to treatment was predicted from demographic, resilience and baseline disability measures. Changes in resilience following treatment were statistically significant. Items that showed the greatest change related to confidence, control, coping, knowing where to turn for help and adaptability. Items showing the least change related to religious and existential aspects of resiliency, effort, acting on a hunch, decision-making and goals. In linear and logistic regression models, gender, baseline CD-RISC score, baseline Sheehan Disability Scale score and an individual item from the CD-RISC scale, 'Sense of Humor', were significant predictors of response to treatment. Treatment of PTSD significantly improved resilience and reduced symptoms in this sample. Further controlled studies are indicated.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

Passive-aggressive personality disorder. Treatment implications of a clinical typology.

Patients with passive-aggressive personality disorder or personality traits represent a very difficult group on which surprisingly little is written. The authors delineate four patterns of passive-aggressive behavior that pose different problems in learning and adaptation. These are the anxiety-inhibited, environmentally inhibited (masochistic), and resentful-vindictive patients and patients inhibited by existential choice. All four types meet the DSM-III criteria for passive-aggressive personality disorder; they may also occur as significant personality traits apart from the fully developed personality disorder. The difficulties that these patients present are the same for clinicians of every theoretical perspective. Using one treatment approach, assertiveness training, the authors offer specific suggestions in the treatment of each type of passive-aggressive patient. These suggestions should aid the clinicians in avoiding premature termination, and fostering both a positive therapeutic alliance and a successful treatment outcome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Maintaining hope in transition: a theoretical framework to guide interventions for people with heart failure.

Theoretical frameworks provide a structure for the planning and delivery of nursing care and for research. Heart failure (HF), a condition of increasing prevalence in communities internationally, is responsible for high rates of morbidity, mortality, and great societal burden. The HF illness trajectory can be unpredictable and uncertain. Markers of transition, such as functional decline and increasing dependence, can signal the need for transition to a more palliative approach. This transition challenges clinicians to deliver information and interventions and to support patients and their families not only in relation to their physical status but also in the social, psychological, and existential dimensions. This article describes a theoretical framework, Maintaining Hope in Transition, informed by transition theory, to assist patients to cope with a diagnosis of HF and to guide development of nursing interventions. Transition theory provides a useful context to assist clinicians, patients, and their families adjust to the challenges inherent in a diagnosis of HF and negotiating the illness trajectory. Key factors acknowledged in the Maintaining Hope in Transition framework that determine its utility in models of care for HF patients are (1) acknowledging the changing of life circumstances, (2) restructuring reality, (3) dealing with vulnerability, (4) achieving normalization, and (5) resolving uncertainty. It is likely that incorporation of these factors in care planning, information, and interventions can facilitate patients' and their families' abilities to negotiate the HF illness trajectory, particularly in the advanced stages.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Palliative care: a challenge for orthopaedic nursing care.

Patients who face chronic, incurable, or life-ending musculoskeletal conditions often receive inadequate care either due to a lack of caregiver awareness or inattention to maintaining the highest quality at the end of life. Palliative care focuses on the comprehensive physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and existential needs of patients with life-threatening or debilitating illness. Orthopaedic nurses and all nurses in general are challenged to incorporate palliative care principles into care planned with patients and families facing end-of-life issues. This article addresses the leadership role the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) has taken to develop a consensus document which endorses the Last Acts Precepts of Palliative Care and affirms the need for palliative care with patients who experience life-threatening illness. A case study is used to illustrate the opportunity a multidisciplinary team has to center care on the individual, while remaining sensitive to the holistic needs of the patient for self-determination at the end of life.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1984

Psychosis as a reaction to leukemia in an adolescent.

The 13-year-old boy described herein had an acute psychotic episode as an emotional response to the diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Although the final psychiatric diagnosis was brief psychotic reaction, this term does not convey the deep existential dilemma experienced by this child, who had not emotionally dealt with his newly diagnosed disease. The choice of symptoms, the Rubik's Cube, served as a metaphor and an easily understood symbol for his distress. The psychosis allowed this boy to deal with and adjust to his illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A theory of mastery.

Mastery is a human response to difficult or stressful circumstances in which competency, control, and dominion have been gained over the experience of stress. The goal of the theory of mastery is to explain how individuals who experience illness or other stressful health conditions may emerge, not demoralized and vulnerable, but healthy and possibly stronger. The human response to stress is fundamentally an existential problem. As such, the theory of mastery has philosophic as well as conceptual roots.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Advocacy and empowerment: dichotomous or synchronous concepts?

An examination of the concept of advocacy in the nursing literature reflects diverse and sometimes conflicting usage. It may denote a set of behaviors not associated with any specific ethical basis, an approach grounded in a justice ethics, or a philosophical basis for nursing. Although some conceptualizations of advocacy are incongruent with empowerment, others that reflect an existential, relational ethics are indeed synchronous with empowerment. Furthermore, the centrality of mutuality and the nurse-patient relationship to both advocacy and a unitary-transformative approach to caring is consistent with the conditions under which empowerment can occur.

Ethics, Nursing↗