A master thesis from Aalborg University
En teoretisk undersøgelse af angst i forbindelse med brystkræft set ud fra et eksistentielt og psykodynamisk perspektiv
Forfatter(e)
Semester
4. semester
Uddannelse
Udgivelsesår
2015
Afleveret
2015-09-15
Antal sider
88 pages
Abstract
This study examines the understanding and treatment of anxiety related to breast cancer from an existential and a psychodynamic perspective. To explore the aspects of anxiety related to breast cancer this study makes use of a number of psychological theories with foundation in existential and psychodynamic theories. This is supplemented with the use of literature and empirical studies on health psychology, supporting the existential and psychodynamic theories, when investigating the understanding and treatment of women with anxiety caused by breast cancer. To investigate the existential perspective on anxiety related to breast cancer the focus is manly on the assumption that anxiety appears when the individual is confronted with four existential life conditions; death, freedom, isolation and meaninglessness. The psychodynamic perspective explores the anxiety experienced by women with breast cancer by focusing on different theories on anxiety. The development of anxiety in women with breast cancer can be understood to be caused by the reproduction of one or more traumatic experiences during early childhood, or as separation anxiety caused by separation or threat of separation from primary caretakers. Furthermore, anxiety can also be caused by a traumatic incident such as breast cancer, depending on the individual’s vulnerability. Another factor that potentially may increase the anxiety in women with breast cancer is the women’s own narcissistic traits as they feel an inability to live up to the ideals of the modern society. When treating women with anxiety related to breast cancer using existential psychotherapy, the focus is mainly on the therapeutic relationship. In addition to this, existential psychotherapy concentrate on the four existential life conditions mentioned above, in an attempt to decrease or confront the anxiety by increasing the client’s awareness of her own mortality and responsibility of her life situation, as well as confronting her with her isolation anxiety and encouraging her to involve herself in life, when the situation seems meaningless. Psychodynamic psychotherapy in women with anxiety related to breast cancer centers around psychotherapeutic methods and phenomenons such as the unconscious mind, transference, countertransference and defense mechanisms. These methods are used to examine the anxiety and hidden feelings underneath the anxiety. The therapeutic alliance may face problems, when treating a woman with anxiety related to breast cancer e.g. if the client has narcissistic traits or the therapist takes on the role as the savior. Furthermore, it is found that the anxiety related to breast cancer can have positive effects if e.g. it helps to change the women’s view on life.
Emneord
Kolofon: Denne side er en del af AAU Studenterprojekter — Aalborg Universitets studenterprojektportal. Her kan du finde og downloade offentligt tilgængelige kandidatspecialer og masterprojekter fra hele universitetet fra 2008 og frem. Studenterprojekter fra før 2008 kan findes i trykt form på Aalborg Universitetsbibliotek.
Har du spørgsmål til AAU Studenterprojekter eller Aalborg Universitets forskningsregistrering, formidling og analyse, er du altid velkommen til at kontakte VBN-teamet. Du kan også læse mere i AAU Studenterprojekter FAQ.