title: Biography as therapy.
abstract: The feeling that life has had no meaning is an impediment to a peaceful death. Life review enables a person to identify events that have been of worth and so enhances self-esteem. This approach has been extended and formalized by establishing a biographer service to compile oral and written biographies of patients who may be expected to benefit from such a re-examination of their lives. The service is now also being offered to patients whose disability precludes most other forms of activity. The value of biography as therapy is considered and it is concluded that it has much to offer in the circumstances described.
authors.affiliation: Te Omanga Hospice, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lichter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001325:Autobiographies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*