Psycho-Oncology in Palliative and End of Life Care

Abstract

Abstract Psycho-Oncology in Palliative and End-of-Life Care provides consensus expert advice and clinical management guidelines on the impact of advanced cancer and its treatment on the life and well-being of a patient as they move into palliative care and toward the end of their life. Employing a practical toolkit format, this volume addresses a variety of key challenges, including: how to talk about death and modes of dying; a poor prognosis; wishes and values of the dying person; advance care plans; mental health diagnoses like anxiety states, demoralization, and problems with coping, depression, and delirium; the needs of partners, children, families, and caregivers; and spiritually oriented and bereavement care. Each chapter considers and describes evidence from the literature, presenting symptoms, the differential diagnosis, and assessment methods to achieve the best diagnosis, so that a detailed formulation can be developed for each person that guides a comprehensive management plan. Each chapter considers professional and service issues, ranging from ethical dilemmas, legal requirements, cultural needs, training and service development issues, through to basic human rights. Part of the Psycho-Oncology Care: Companion Guides for Clinicians series, this concise pocket guide is a resource for oncology specialists, psycho-oncologists in training, consultant nurse specialists and nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals to use as a quick reference in everyday practice. Pitched at intermediate to advanced level skills, this companion guide can be used as a standalone, or alongside existing oncology and psycho-oncology training programs.