[Palliative care in a psychiatric-somatic care unit]

Patients with severe psychiatric and somatic disorders may require admission to a combined psychiatric-somatic care unit. These units provide specialised psychiatric and somatic care as well as palliative care. This is illustrated by two case reports. A 51-year-old man with a malignant brain tumour was admitted to our psychiatric-somatic care unit after threatening his wife and children. He was aggressive and confused. Seizures were suspected and palliative care was needed. Within a few weeks his condition deteriorated. He died 1 day after terminal sedation had been initiated. A 78-year-old woman was admitted to receive daily electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) for depression with catatonia. The ECT had to be interrupted repeatedly due to comorbid infections and complications. She died 3 days after palliative care was initiated.