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Existential aspects of breathlessness in serious disease
David Baglow1,2, Kylie Johnston1, Marie Williams1
1Allied Health and Human Performance and Innovation, IMPlementation And Clinical Translation in Health (IIMPACT), University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
|November 4, 2024
Summary
Existential distress is common in serious illness and closely linked to breathlessness. Addressing these existential concerns is vital for holistic patient well-being and requires tailored assessment and interventions.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Psychosocial Oncology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Breathlessness in serious illness can trigger existential threat and distress.
- Existential concerns extend beyond physical symptoms, impacting patients and caregivers.
- Understanding these dimensions is crucial for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existential aspects of breathlessness in serious illness.
- To explore recent studies on assessing and managing associated distress and suffering.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on breathlessness and existential distress.
- Analysis of assessment and management approaches.
Main Results:
- Breathlessness and existential distress are multidimensional with behavioral consequences.
- Shared neurobiological processing may link breathlessness and existential distress.
- Contagious and isolating effects of breathlessness-related distress are noted.
Conclusions:
- Studies on existential constructs in breathlessness are limited.
- Interventions for existential distress may need adaptation for non-malignant conditions.
- Taxonomies of existential distress can guide assessment and novel therapies for holistic well-being.
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