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Adapting meaning-centered psychotherapy for World Trade Center responders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2020

Melissa Masterson-Duva Open the ORCID record for Melissa Masterson-Duva [Opens in a new window] ,
Peter Haugen ,
Aditi Werth ,
Alyce Foster ,
Emily Chassman ,
Kailey Roberts ,
Jonathan DePierro ,
Massielle Morales-Miller ,
Sandra Lowe  and
Hayley Pessin
...Show all authors
Melissa Masterson-Duva*
Affiliation:
New York University School of Medicine, World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Peter Haugen
Affiliation:
New York University School of Medicine, World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY
Aditi Werth
Affiliation:
New York University School of Medicine, World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY
Alyce Foster
Affiliation:
New York University School of Medicine, World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY
Emily Chassman
Affiliation:
New York University School of Medicine, World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY
Kailey Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Jonathan DePierro
Affiliation:
Mt. Sinai World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY
Massielle Morales-Miller
Affiliation:
Mt. Sinai World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY
Sandra Lowe
Affiliation:
Mt. Sinai World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY
Hayley Pessin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Wendy Lichtenthal
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
William Breitbart
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
*
Author for correspondence: Melissa Masterson-Duva, New York University School of Medicine, World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, New York, NY, USA. E-mail: melissa.duva@nyulangone.org
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Abstract

Objective

To date, nearly 10,000 World Trade Center (WTC) responders have been diagnosed with at least one type of WTC-related cancer, and over 70 types of cancer have been related to WTC occupational exposure. Due to the observed latency period for malignancies, the WTC Health Program anticipates increases in rates of new cancer diagnoses. Given the growing number of cancer diagnoses in this population, there is an urgent need to develop a novel intervention to address the psychosocial needs of WTC responders with cancer. Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) is a structured psychotherapeutic intervention originally developed to help patients with advanced cancer find and sustain meaning in life despite illness-related limitations. Existential distress and loss of meaning are critical and understudied elements of psychological health that have been widely overlooked among WTC responders with cancer.

Method

We have adapted MCP for WTC responders (MCP-WTC) for the treatment of WTC responders who have been diagnosed with WTC-certified cancers. MCP-WTC aims to target the complex crisis in meaning faced by those responders who responded to the 9/11 attacks and subsequently were diagnosed with cancer as a result of their service.

Results

We describe the adaptation of MCP-WTC and the application of this intervention to meet the unique needs of those exposed to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), participated in the rescue, recovery, and clean-up effort at Ground Zero, and were diagnosed with WTC-related cancer. We highlight the novel aspects of this intervention which have been designed to facilitate meaning-making in the context of the patient's response to 9/11 and subsequent diagnosis of cancer.

Significance of results

This work provides a rationale for MCP-WTC and the potential for this intervention to improve the quality of life of WTC responders and help these patients navigate life after 9/11 and cancer.

Keywords

CancerEmergency respondersExistential distressMeaningSeptember 11 Terrorist Attacks
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , December 2020 , pp. 636 - 643
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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Footnotes

*

This article has been updated since its original publication. See doi: 10.1017/S147895152000067X

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