PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT IN TERMINAL CARE

During the terminal phase of illness, many geriatric patients develop psychiatric symptoms either alone or in combination with physical symp toms that have profound effects on their quality of life. Common psych iatric complications include anxiety, depression, and cognitive disord er. A multidisciplinary approach is the best approach in managing psyc hiatric complications facing patients with terminal illness. The goal of this article is twofold in that it provides the psychologist or psy chiatrist with a knowledge base that is specific to terminal illness a nd gives the geriatrician the framework for approaching psychiatric sy mptoms that frequently arise in terminal care.