title: Symbolic expressions of dying patients: communications, not hallucinations.
abstract: The author presents an historical and psychological framework for considering the human process of dying. An in-depth presentation is made on providing supportive emotional care to dying patients who are communicating symbolically. Many clinical examples are included.
authors.affiliation: Human Support Department, El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, CA.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Dugan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D003142:Communication; D004325:Dreams; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012660:Semantics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000451:nursing; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*