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Review
. 2018 Aug;35(8):1133-1139.
doi: 10.1177/1049909118756656. Epub 2018 Feb 20.

Assessment and Treatment Considerations for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at End of Life

Debra M Glick  1 , Joan M Cook  2 , Jennifer Moye  3 , Anica Pless Kaiser  4
Affiliations
Review

Assessment and Treatment Considerations for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at End of Life

Debra M Glick et al. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2018 Aug.

Abstract

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may first emerge, reemerge, or worsen as individuals approach end of life and may complicate the dying process. Unfortunately, lack of awareness of the occurrence and/or manifestation of PTSD at end of life can lead to PTSD going unaddressed. Even if PTSD is properly diagnosed, traditional evidence-based trauma-focused treatments may not be feasible or advisable with this group as many patients at end of life often lack the physical and mental stamina to participate in traditional psychotherapy. This article reviews the clinical and empirical literature on PTSD at end of life, as well as discusses assessment and psychotherapy treatment issues with this neglected population. In addition, it expands on the current reviews of this literature1-3 by extrapolating results from nontraditional treatment approaches with other patient populations. Elements of these approaches with patients sharing similar characteristics and/or comorbidities with patients with PTSD at end of life may provide additional benefits for the latter population. Clinical implications and suggestions for interdisciplinary care providers are provided.

Keywords: PTSD; end of life; hospice; palliative care; post traumatic stress disorder; psychotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

References

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    1. Cohen ST, Block S. Issues in psychotherapy with terminally ill patients. Palliat Support Care. 2004;2(2):181–189. - PubMed

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