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End-of-Life Care

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Abstract

This summary provides clinicians with information about anticipating the end of life (EOL); the common symptoms patients experience as life ends, including in the final hours to days; and treatment or care considerations. Psychiatrists can help patients to navigate emotionally charged issues associated with EOL care, as well as to facilitate discussions among patients and other clinicians. As patients cope with progressively debilitating chronic illnesses, psychiatrists will be increasingly involved in diagnosing and treating common syndromes associated with the EOL such as delirium, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders. They will also be consulted on difficult cases as patients, family members, and clinical staff struggle with other issues beyond psychiatric illness, per se.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Ana Hategan

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Baylor Scott and White Health Central Texas Division, Dallas, TX, USA

    James A. Bourgeois

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX, Canada

    James A. Bourgeois

  4. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, USA

    Tracy Cheng

  5. Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Farmington, NM, USA

    Julie Young

Authors
  1. Ana Hategan
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  2. James A. Bourgeois
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  3. Tracy Cheng
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  4. Julie Young
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Hategan, A., Bourgeois, J.A., Cheng, T., Young, J. (2018). End-of-Life Care. In: Geriatric Psychiatry Study Guide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77128-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77128-1_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-77127-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-77128-1

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