Assessment and coping strategies for stress and depression among the terminally ill patients: Focus on cancer

Abstract

The concept of psychological depressive symptoms affecting the terminally ill patient still stood as an unsolved mystery in many clinical practices. The psychological traumatic and depressive stressors are the factors responsible for destroying the quality of life and affected the terminally ill individual in the most degrading ways. Alongside the physical pain symptoms, the terminal ill experience is always accompanied by several unwanted mental disharmonies and emotional sufferings like toxins, mood disorder, trauma, and low self-esteem. The higher level of stress and depression determines the growth of tumors and cancer metastasis rate in any terminal diagnosis. This makes the assessment of the psychological non-pain symptoms essential alongside the physical pain symptoms. Failing to acknowledge the patient's traumatic experience and depressive stressors will make the treatment unproductive and increase suicidal activities.