Psychotherapy at the End of Life

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Psychology
• Thanatology

Background:

• Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross pioneered end-of-life care discussions 50 years ago.
• A significant research gap existed in understanding patient and clinician coping with death.
• Current research validates and expands upon Kübler-Ross's initial recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review empirical studies on psychological well-being and distress in terminally ill patients.
• To examine patient desire for hastened death and debates on physician-assisted suicide.
• To demonstrate the development of manualized psychotherapies informed by existential principles.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of empirical studies on end-of-life psychological care.
• Analysis of research on patient desire for hastened death and assisted suicide.
• Examination of existential principles informing psychotherapy development.

Main Results:

• A growing body of research supports best practices in end-of-life care.
• Studies on end-of-life distress have led to manualized psychotherapies.
• Dignity Therapy and Meaning Centered Psychotherapy are empirically supported interventions.

Conclusions:

• Existential principles have guided the development of effective psychotherapies for advanced illness.
• Manualized psychotherapies aim to reduce suffering and enhance dignity, meaning, and peace.
• Empirically supported therapies are crucial for improving end-of-life patient and family experiences.