Psychotherapeutic Interventions Among Muslims Undergoing Treatment for Cancer: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a global disease that affects all populations, including Muslims. Psychological and spiritual care of Muslim patients with cancer includes psychotherapeutic techniques that help to improve their mental health and spiritual well-being. Although these techniques are available to cancer patients worldwide, they are poorly studied among Muslim patients. Purpose: To integrate the literature on the psychosocial-spiritual outcomes of and perspectives of Muslim patients with cancer who have undergone psychotherapy. Methods: We used the Whittemore and Knafl five-step methodology. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO using relevant keywords. Studies that focused on adult patients with cancer and on published evidence of using psychotherapeutic interventions among Muslim patients were included. Each study was reviewed, evaluated, and integrated.Results: A systematic search produced 18 studies that were thematically analyzed. Results showed different psychotherapeutic approaches currently used to care for Muslim patients with cancer that target mainly patients’ mental health, quality of life, and spiritual well-being. Four major themes emerged: (1) Treating Psychological Distress Without Psychopharmacologic Agents, (2) Improving Knowledge of Cancer for Improving QOL, (3) Depending on Faith for Spiritual Well-being, and (4) Relying on Religious and Spiritual Sources: Letting Go, Letting God. Conclusion: The rigor of psychotherapeutic studies that target psychosocial-spiritual outcomes of Muslim cancer patients needs to be improved to reach conclusive evidence about their efficacy in this population.