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Psychiatry and terminal illness.
1Division of Palliative Care, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. chochin@cc.umanitoba.ca
Summary
Psychiatry is increasingly important in end-of-life care, addressing psychological issues and psychiatric disorders in terminally ill patients. Emerging literature guides psychiatrists in providing comprehensive palliative care.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Palliative Care
- End-of-Life Care
Background:
- End-of-life care necessitates addressing complex psychological and psychiatric issues.
- Palliative care literature is expanding to include these crucial aspects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the psychiatric literature relevant to end-of-life care.
- To identify key psychological and psychiatric challenges in palliative care.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of empirical studies.
- Focused on psychological issues in life-threatening conditions, family dynamics, healthcare provider challenges, and psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, organic mental disorders) in terminal illness.
Main Results:
- A nascent body of literature exists to support psychiatrists in end-of-life care.
- This literature addresses psychological, family, and provider-specific issues.
Conclusions:
- Psychiatry's role in end-of-life care is growing.
- Psychiatry has a significant and expanding opportunity within palliative care.