Understanding depression in palliative and end-of-life care.

Full Abstract

Depression in patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care is difficult to distinguish from grief and sadness. However, there are some important distinctions and it is a clinical condition that is treatable and should not be considered a necessary or normal part of the dying process. This article examines the nature of depression and describes the stress vulnerability model of depression, linking it to recent developments in the neurobiology of depression. It also discusses how to distinguish depression from other symptoms that patients may be experiencing.

Author information

Author/s: Taylor, Vanessa (V); Ashelford, Sarah (S);

Affiliation: Division of Nursing, University of Bradford. v.taylor1(-atsign-)bradford.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (Nurs Stand), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2008 Nov 26-Dec 2; vol 23 (issue 12) : pp 48-57; quiz 58, 60

Dates: Created 2008/12/19; Completed 2009/02/12;

PMID: 19093358, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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