Demoralisation: its impact on informed consent and medical care

Demoralisation, a mental state characterised by hopelessness and meaningles sness, can be differentiated from depression in that demoralised patients c an enjoy the present, their lack of hope being confined to the future. Howe ver, like severe depression, demoralisation can interfere with a person's c apacity to give informed consent. Doctors and other health professionals ar e also subject to demoralisation, which influences medical care.