Relief of emotional symptoms in elderly patients with terminal cancer.
Effective palliative care is one of the most valuable skills a physician may acquire. It involves not only control of physical symptoms, but relief of emotional symptoms. Relief of emotional symptoms requires truth telling in a context of supportive, skillful communication. Important communication skills include empathy, legitimation, support, partnership, and respect. Using these skills and the development of a limited treatment plan, along with pharmacological intervention, when necessary, to treat anxiety, depression, and confusion, may provide a significant measure of relief for the suffering that often accompanies terminal cancer.
Kinzel
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Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003221:Confusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*