Dear Editor,

We are writing to highlight the significant findings from the study “Resilience and Spiritual Well-being as Resources for Coping with Radiotherapy and Surviving in Patients with Glioblastoma” by Dinapoli et al. (Reference Dinapoli, Caliandro and Chiesa2025), which emphasize the crucial role of spiritual well-being and resilience in the psychological and survival outcomes of glioblastoma patients undergoing radiochemotherapy (Dinapoli et al Reference Dinapoli, Caliandro and Chiesa2025). The study’s results indicate that spiritual well-being and resilience are powerful psychological resources that can mitigate psychosocial distress, enhance coping mechanisms, and potentially improve survival outcomes in these patients (Bagereka et al Reference Bagereka, Ameli and Sinaii2023). These findings underscore the need for targeted psychospiritual counseling interventions in the management of glioblastoma patients, integrating both psychological and spiritual aspects to optimize their care.

The study clearly indicates that high spiritual well-being and resilience are strongly correlated with lower levels of psychosocial distress, including anxiety and depression, in glioblastoma patients. The patients who reported higher levels of resilience were found to survive longer compared to those with lower resilience scores. This suggests that fostering resilience both psychological and spiritual could play a critical role in improving the long-term health outcomes of these patients (Pohan, Khadijah, Pohan et al Reference Pohan, Khadijah and Saputra2024b, Reference Pohan, Kulsum and Khadijah2025b). It is imperative, therefore, that healthcare providers integrate interventions that enhance these attributes, particularly as patients navigate the physically and emotionally challenging journey of radiochemotherapy.

The study further highlights the detrimental effects of significant psychosocial stress on glioblastoma patients, particularly on their spiritual well-being and resilience. Patients experiencing higher levels of emotional distress exhibited lower scores on resilience scales and measures of spiritual well-being. This relationship emphasizes the need to address the emotional and psychological burden of living with a terminal illness like glioblastoma (Okon et al Reference Okon, Osama and Akpan2024). It is apparent that emotional distress, if left unaddressed, can not only affect the psychological health of patients but also shorten their survival, reinforcing the importance of timely and effective psychological support.

Given the substantial impact that spiritual well-being and resilience have on patient outcomes, We propose that a psychospiritual counseling approach be integrated into the treatment plan for glioblastoma patients. This approach should aim to address both the spiritual and psychological needs of patients, offering them a holistic support system. Interventions could include mindfulness-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques tailored to enhance resilience, and spiritually focused counseling that provides patients with meaning and hope in the face of their illness (Pohan Reference Pohan2024; Pohan et al Reference Pohan, Khadijah and Saputra2024b). By incorporating spiritual support, clinicians can help patients tap into inner resources that foster coping, while also promoting psychological resilience (Thorvilson et al Reference Thorvilson, Warsame and Ferdjallah2025). This could be particularly beneficial during radiochemotherapy, which is a period of significant physical and emotional strain (Meixner et al Reference Meixner, Sandrini and Hoeltgen2022). Furthermore, providing personalized psychological counseling that combines resilience training and spiritual care could contribute to better coping strategies, reduced emotional distress, and, as indicated by the study, potentially improve survival rates (Pohan et al Reference Pohan, Astuti and Maizura2025a). Incorporating such interventions could lead to more positive health outcomes and improved quality of life for glioblastoma patients.

This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between spiritual well-being, resilience, and psychosocial distress in glioblastoma patients. It calls for the integration of psychospiritual counseling in clinical practice, especially during radiochemotherapy. By emphasizing spiritual and psychological resilience, we can better support patients in coping with their illness, enhance their quality of life, and potentially improve their survival outcomes. As we continue to seek innovative approaches to cancer care, psychospiritual interventions offer a promising avenue for addressing the complex emotional and spiritual needs of patients facing terminal diagnoses.