Addressing Existential Distress Through Compassion: Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Compassion With You (COMwithU), a Compassion‐Based Intervention for Patients With Cancer
Yeonkyu Choi, Jang Sub Kim, Hyejeong Ahn, Soowan Han, Min Cheol Seo, Jae Hyun Ryou, Da Eun Kim, Yoosuk An, Bhumsuk Keam, Tae‐Yong Kim, Eun Seoung Yu, Hye Yoon Park · 2026
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Description
Yeonkyu Choi led a large team testing Compassion With You (COMwithU), a program for cancer patients, in a 2026 paper. Cancer distress goes past fear and low mood to existential suffering, with lost meaning, helplessness, and strained ties with others. The program runs five sessions, each held for one patient at a time. It is built on self-compassion, the therapist's compassionate presence, and care for others. A single-arm study checked feasibility first, then tracked early change in anxiety, depression, spiritual well-being, demoralization, and self-compassion.
Most of those who started the program went to at least three of the five sessions. They rated it as highly helpful. By the one-month follow-up, each of those five outcomes was clearly better. Among those with high demoralization at the start, most showed reliable gains. Intolerance of uncertainty did not change.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Yeonkyu Choi, Jang Sub Kim, Hyejeong Ahn, Soowan Han, Min Cheol Seo, Jae Hyun Ryou, Da Eun Kim, Yoosuk An, Bhumsuk Keam, Tae‐Yong Kim, Eun Seoung Yu, Hye Yoon Park |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 39 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |