Talking therapy may restore dignity in final months of cancer

NCT ID NCT06105359

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Necmettin Erbakan University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a talking therapy called dignity therapy can improve feelings of dignity and self-esteem in people with end-stage cancer. 48 patients were randomly assigned to receive either dignity therapy or usual care. The therapy involved five sessions discussing personal questions to help patients reflect on their lives. The goal was to see if this approach could ease emotional distress and improve quality of life in the final months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: dignity therapy (a structured psychological intervention)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, non-drug way to help terminally ill cancer patients feel more dignified and improve their self-esteem.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with only 48 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The therapy is supportive and carries no physical risks, but its benefits may be modest.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer Depression neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CANCER DIGNITY

Contacts and locations

Locations

Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi

Konya, 42080, Turkey (Türkiye)

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