| Abstract: |
(from the chapter) This chapter prepares the psychosomatic medicine practitioner to become an effective psychiatric clinician involved in the care of patients with advanced, life-threatening medical illnesses, either as a consultant to or a part of the palliative care team. In this chapter, we review basic concepts and the role of the psychiatrist in palliative care, including assessment and management of common psychiatric disorders in the terminally ill, with special attention to suicide and desire for hastened death. We describe the psychotherapies developed for use in palliative care settings and then discuss spirituality, cultural sensitivity, communication, grief and bereavement, and control of common physical symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). |
