Abstract
MAN`S SEARCH FOR MEANING Applying existential psychology to rehabilitate seriously ill or injured people Background During life a number of people are exposed to extreme strains in one way or another. Among these strains, serious illness or injury constitute major threats to people`s existence. When people are threatened the question about meaning may become essential. As future doctors, working with seriously ill or injured people, we wanted to find out how people cope with these conditions. Methods First we searched for answers within existential psychology, -literature, -philosophy and -theology, supplied with a number of patobiographies. Secondly five patients who were existentially threatened through serious illness or injury were thoroughly interviewed about the extent to which their life changed after the incident. Results Relevant literature emphasize that it is impossible to find an abstract meaning with life, but possible to discover meaning in life. In the same way, suffering itself has no abstract meaning, although it might be meaningful to experience suffering caused by serious illness or injury. In light of our inquiry, we find it remarkable that our patients did not make any fundamental change in lifedirection after the extreme strain which had threatened their existence. It rather seems that they intensified their interest in areas already established. Conclusion Rehabilitating seriously ill or injured people being in an existential vacuum, the doctor should challenge the patient within a well known area. The challenge can call back the patient`s will to meaning.