The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
Do Rates of Mental Disorders and Existential Distress among Advanced Stage Cancer Patients Increase as Death Approaches?
Authors:
Lichtenthal, Wendy G.
Nilsson, Matthew
Zhang, Baohui
Trice, Elizabeth D.
Kissane, David W.
Breibart, William
Prigerson, Holly G.
Source:
Psycho-Oncology: 2009, 18, pp. 50-61.
Summary
This article summarizes the results of a multi-site, longitudinal cohort study that was designed to determine whether mental disorders increase as individuals with advanced cancer draw closer to death. Researchers interviewed 289 patients before their deaths for major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of other factors including grief symptoms, the burden of physical symptoms, peacefulness, and the desire to live or die.
The authors concluded that higher rates of mental disorders were not associated with closeness to death. However, as death grew closer, patients did identify a higher burden of physical symptoms and a greater wish to die.
Key Words: cancer, panic, anxiety, depression
Service Provider Implications
Service providers may benefit from knowing that as cancer patients approach death, they are not likely to experience greater depression or anxiety, but may feel more burdened by their physical symptoms and may experience a stronger wish to die.
