The ATLANTES Program of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra has held the second session of its ATLANTES and Friends series. Mathieu Bernard and Emmanuelle Poncin, from the Palliative Care Service of the Hospital of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) were invited as guests. In their intervention they defended the paradigm of 'positive psychology' during the discussion paper 'A gratitude-based intervention for patients and their caregivers'.

According to experts, this intervention focuses on the positive aspects of life experiences. Based on the concepts of 'gratitude' and 'meaning in life', it aims to promote and increase the quality of life and relationships of patients and caregivers.

This speech encourages a balanced perspective on human experiences and financial aid to integrate the 'dark' aspects, such as suffering and loss. "Accepting the good and the bad can lead to positive outcomes for patients, families and staff ," they said.

Bernard and Poncin are currently developing a research to test whether gratitude-based intervention in palliative care can increase the quality of life and relationships between patients and caregivers and reduce distress and psychological burden.

ATLANTES and Friends is an open onlineseminar in which members of this group dialogue with other international researchers about gratitude in palliative care. The initiative is part of the project 'The phenomenon of gratitude in palliative care'. 

The next session will be on 19 February. Giskin Day, from King's College London, will delve into the relationship between gratitude and healing. Registrations for attend in person or through Zoom can be made by sending an email to Estefanía Berjón.