Awareness of death shapes our existence; it prompts both distress and a maturation process called existential maturation. Presently, direct quantitative measures of existential maturation are unavailable to study treatments for existential distress that enhance psychological well-being. We examined the effect of a mortality salience stimulus on implicit death thoughts over time. We also examined the associations among existing measures of constructs conceptualized as relevant to an eventual measure of existential maturation in a representative sample.

A cross-sectional Qualtrics panel of 1,000 adults, representative of the United States' urban and rural populations, completed a 20-minute survey. The self-report Human Existence survey included an embedded mortality salience stimulus (Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviors Scale) and valid, reliable measures of implicit death-thought accessibility (DTA), existential isolation, existential distress, flourishing, transcendence, attachment, connections, peace, and other related constructs.

The DTA measure did not replicate previous research on mortality salience. We found significant positive correlations between existential isolation and existential distress, and between flourishing and transcendence. However, correlations of death anxiety with isolation, flourishing, and transcendence were surprisingly low. In multivariate analysis, avoidant attachment was negatively associated with existential isolation and distress; death anxiety was positively associated with anxious/ambivalent attachment. Transcendence was negatively associated with avoidant attachment and positively associated with being at peace and connections. Flourishing was positively associated with being at peace and connections.

An ineffective death reminder or the DTA online format may have affected DTA results. Striking relationships between attachment style and EM indicators confirm they are interrelated. Measures for existential maturation and related phenomena still lack implicit measures to assess nonconscious components.

Brain tumors are associated with negative changes in sense of self and increased distress early in the illness trajectory. Dignity Therapy (DT) is a brief 2-session therapeutic intervention for patients at end-of-life (EOL) that helps conserve a patient’s sense of dignity or self. DT has shown positive results for patients at EOL including increased meaning, improved quality of life (QOL), and reduced distress, with limited research to date on patients early in their illness trajectory (non-EOL). This pre-post design pilot study investigated the benefits and feasibility of DT for 2 groups of patients with incurable brain tumors.

A total of 51 participants were recruited, of whom 39 participated. Participants were grouped as EOL (prognosis < 1 year, n = 21) and non-EOL (prognosis > 1 year, n = 18). Participants completed self-report measures to determine changes in QOL, psychosocial well-being (i.e., spiritual well-being, connection, and posttraumatic growth), and death anxiety, at baseline, 1 week, and 5 weeks post-intervention.

The intervention had a high completion rate, with 37 of 39 participants (95%) completing DT. Linear regression models fitted with generalized estimating equations (GEEs) showed within- and between-group significant changes in all domains for both groups, but were particularly beneficial for non-EOL participants.

This study demonstrated that DT effectively enhanced psychosocial well-being in patients with brain tumors, including reductions in death anxiety and dignity-related distress. Non-EOL participants benefited most and had higher completion rates, highlighting the intervention’s feasibility and the need for further research in earlier stages of terminal illness.

This study was conducted to identify dyspnea, anxiety, and death anxiety in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The study was carried out with 200 COPD patients who applied to the chest diseases outpatient clinic of a state hospital between December 2022 and June 2023.

A total of 73.0% of the patients with COPD participating in the study were male and their mean age was 66.73 ± 8.45 years. Their mean scores were 5.21 ± 2.46 on Modified Borg Scale, 2.62 ± 1.03 on the Modified Medical Research Council scale, 17.87 ± 7.96 on the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and 10.07 ± 4.02 on the Death Anxiety Scale. Patients with high dyspnea levels also had high levels of anxiety and death anxiety (p < 0.001).

The patients with COPD had high levels of dyspnea, anxiety, and death anxiety. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended to plan evidence-based studies to alleviate dyspnea, anxiety, and death anxiety in patients with COPD.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) cancer caregivers experience significant burden and stress with limited tailored resources. Mindfulness interventions hold promise in alleviating caregiver distress. Predicated on our previous work with allogeneic HCT caregivers, this single-arm trial tested the feasibility and acceptability of a modified mindfulness-based intervention, AutoFOCUS, among autologous HCT caregivers.

Participants received the 6-session AutoFOCUS face-to-face via telehealth, with assessments at baseline, end of treatment, and 1-month post-treatment. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, retention, and session attendance, and acceptability was measured via satisfaction and intent to continue using skills learned. Exploratory outcome measures included distress, anxiety, perceived stress, affect, and post-traumatic growth. Data from the smartphone app that supplemented the face-to-face component of the intervention were collected. In-depth interviews gathered participant feedback.

Twenty-six caregivers (mean age = 57.7 years, 89% female) were enrolled and 19 completed at least 4 sessions, 14 completed all 6 sessions, and 22 completed the 1-month follow-up. High satisfaction (M = 3.56/4; SD = 0.43) and intent to utilize the skills learned in the future (M = 8.58/10; SD = 1.81/4) were reported. Significant reductions in distress (p < .001, (effect sizes [ES]) = 0.99), anxiety (p = .032, [ES] = 0.53), perceived stress (p = .035, [ES] = 0.52), and negative affect (p = .008, [ES] = 0.69) were reported, along with a significant increase in post-traumatic growth (p = .009, [ES] = 0.67) from baseline to end of treatment. App use was moderate. Interview results highlighted positive perceptions and supported quantitative results.

AutoFOCUS was feasible and acceptable. Future studies should explore the efficacy of this treatment on a larger scale with a comparison condition.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, significantly affecting patients’ quality of life. Current pharmacological treatments are often ineffective or poorly tolerated, necessitating alternative therapeutic approaches. Scrambler Therapy (ST), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, has shown potential for reducing neuropathic pain, but optimal dosing regimens remain undefined.

This case study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Scrambler Therapy in reducing pain levels and improving functional status in a patient with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

A single patient diagnosed with CIPN was treated with Scrambler Therapy over a series of sessions. Pain levels and functional status were measured using standardized assessment tools before, during, and after the therapy to evaluate the impact of ST on symptom relief and daily functioning.

After completing the Scrambler Therapy sessions, the patient reported significant reductions in pain intensity and notable improvements in functional status. These improvements were sustained several weeks and months following the therapy, indicating the potential long-term benefits of ST for managing CIPN.

This case study demonstrates the potential of Scrambler Therapy as an effective treatment option for reducing pain and improving functional status in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. These findings suggest that ST may provide a promising non-invasive alternative to current treatments for managing neuropathic pain in cancer patients.

Multimorbidity is increasingly common among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), yet the role of social determinants in shaping its prevalence and outcomes remains underexplored.

This review aimed to (a) identify the prevalence, types, and patterns of multimorbidity among older adults in SSA; (b) examine the influence of social determinants such as income, education, healthcare access, and geographic location; (c) evaluate current approaches for prevention and management; and (d) propose directions for future research.

A systematic search of six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Global Index Medicus) was conducted to identify quantitative studies published between 2000 and 2024 on adults aged 50 and above. Of 841 records screened, 16 studies met inclusion criteria and passed quality appraisal. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024607875).

Multimorbidity ranged from 5.4% in Botswana to 71% in Nigeria. Cardiometabolic conditions often co-occurred with infectious and mental disorders. Poverty and low education significantly increased risk (OR: 1.44–7.44). Rural residents faced limited healthcare access, while urban dwellers had higher risks from lifestyle factors. Obesity and food insecurity further heightened vulnerability, especially among women and older adults.

Findings indicate that social determinants critically shape multimorbidity risk and outcomes in SSA. Integrated care models, targeted interventions, and policies addressing structural inequalities are urgently needed. Future research should apply longitudinal and qualitative approaches to clarify causal pathways and inform context-sensitive strategies.

A person-centered outcomes-based quality improvement program is lacking within palliative care in Mainland China. The well-established Australian Palliative Care Outcome Collaboration (PCOC) national model improves palliative care quality.

This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators perceived by healthcare providers to integrating the PCOC model in a Chinese hospital-based palliative care unit.

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured focus group and individual interviews. A rapid deductive analysis approach was selected for data analysis. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research framework was used to guide the study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

Eighteen healthcare professionals participated in this study, four focus group interviews and five individual interviews were completed. Barriers to the PCOC integration included clinical application and workload concerns (patients in terminal stage, patients’ dialects, workload concerns, and staff shortages); attitudinal barriers (negative attitudes toward PCOC); psychological barriers (numbness to their work) and barriers related to knowledge and self-efficacy (lack of knowledge, capacity, and self-efficacy in palliative care). Facilitators included adapting the program to local contexts, ongoing education and feedback, effective PCOC data use, a supportive work and clinical environment and staff’s perceived advantages of the model across clinical, research and process domains.

The successful integration of the PCOC program hinges on local adaptation, improved data utilization, education, and IT support. In regions with less developed palliative care, enhancing professionals’ knowledge and self-efficacy is crucial. Incorporating assessment and clinical response protocols into technology can accelerate palliative care development and implementation.