TITLE:
Application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Hospice Care of Cancer Patients
AUTHORS:
Lingling Tang, Qiong Wen
KEYWORDS:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cancer, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Anxiety, Quality of Life
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.10,
October
16,
2025
ABSTRACT: Objective: To explore the application value of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in palliative care for terminally ill cancer patients, providing practical evidence to alleviate psychological distress, improve quality of life, and promote clinical implementation of palliative care. Methods: A total of 60 terminally ill cancer patients from the oncology department of a tertiary hospital were randomly assigned into a control group (30 cases) and an intervention group (30 cases) using a randomized digital table method. The control group received standard oncology care, while the intervention group underwent structured CBT therapy based on routine care. The intervention lasted 4 weeks, with two 45-minute sessions per week. Intervention components included: semi-structured interviews to guide patients in expressing concerns about their condition and mortality; Socratic questioning to correct negative cognitions; behavioral activation activities (light walking, craft-making); daily 10-minute mindful breathing meditation; progressive muscle relaxation training; and “Life Line Drawing” meaning therapy. Effectiveness was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), European Organization for Cancer Research and Treatment Life Quality Core Scale (EORTC QLQ-C30), Numerical Rating System of Pain (NRS), and insomnia incidence rates before and 4 weeks after intervention. Results: After intervention, the HADS anxiety score in the intervention group decreased significantly from (10.2 ± 1.5) to (6.8 ± 1.2), showing a statistically significant difference compared to the control group (p p p Conclusion: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) effectively alleviates anxiety symptoms, enhances quality of life, and improves physical symptoms like pain and sleep by correcting distorted perceptions, activating adaptive behaviors, and regulating negative emotions in terminally ill cancer patients. Integrating CBT into palliative care systems facilitates holistic “physical, mental, social, and spiritual” care, thereby enhancing patients’ dignity during their final stages.