| Psycho-Spiritual Integrative Therapy (PSIT) is a holistic, complementary, and alternative medicine (CAM) psychospiritual intervention aimed at improving quality of life (QL) using meditation, imagery, creative expression, and introspection. The goal of PSIT is to psychospiritually develop the participant's mind, body, thoughts, will, and spirit. This qualitative study was conducted to examine if and how individual participant factors and PSIT intervention factors impacted the spiritual well-being (SWB) and QL of 4 PSIT participants. The relationship between SWB and QL was explored. A multiple case study was used for secondary data analysis of archival data collected during an 8-week PSIT workshop as part of a larger feasibility study of Kathleen Wall, Ph.D., to improve the physical, psychological, and SWB of women aged 18 years or older coping with primary breast cancer. Two participants reporting the highest SWB change score and 2 participants reporting the lowest SWB change score on the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-Being Scale-Expanded Version (FACIT-Sp-Ex) were selected. Qualitative interviews and 3 participant descriptions of creative expression workbooks were analyzed using a cross-case analysis to explore SWB and QL changes. Results pertaining to participant factors included possession of metacognitive psychological skills and qualities, and spiritual and religious frameworks possibly contributing to SWB and QL changes. Results pertaining to PSIT factors promoting changes in SWB and QL included utilization of PSIT core intervention components; cognitive restructuring, group dynamics, and the role of the facilitator. Results pertaining to the relationship between SWB and QL included the nature and extent of participant use of spiritual practices. Implications of the findings include the importance of spiritual and religious assessment, matching the intensity of treatment to the individual, accurate use of mindfulness by participants and the innovative application of case study method. |
