Narrative Therapy to Prevent Illness-Related Stress Disorder

More than 94% of cancer patients described the experience as the most traumatic event they have ever faced and 13% have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath. Empirical evidence demonstrates that certain behaviors lead to more positive health outcomes. Although many patients automatically engage in these behaviors, many others do not. Treatments typically focus on short-term, symptom-focused strategies. Narrative-Expressive Therapy is an intervention designed to address the long-term, underlying stress and to prevent PTSD in patients with serious illness.