title: Palliative care for terminally ill individuals with schizophrenia.
abstract: Individuals with schizophrenia are often medically undertreated and experience symptoms that interfere with communication and the capacity to make medical decisions. These issues complicate quality end-of-life care for this population and are of particular concern for hospice and palliative care nurses and health care providers. This article presents a case study of a terminally ill patient with schizophrenia. It is divided into a series of vignettes; each vignette presents a common clinical issue encountered by the palliative care team. Interventions suggested in the literature and those used by team members when working with the patient are discussed.
authors.forename: Terry L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Terpstra
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terpstra
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*