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Dignity and Psychotherapeutic Considerations in End-of-Life Care

2004; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 20; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/082585970402000303

2369-5293

Harvey Max Chochinov, Thomas F. Hack, Thomas Hassard, Linda J. Kristjanson, Susan McClement, Mike Harlos,

Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

The basic tenets of palliative care are frequently subsumed under the goal of helping patients to die with dignity. Our research group has studied the issue of dignity, with dying patients serving as the primary informants. This paper reviews some of our findings, including an overview of the Dignity Model that derives from our empirical work. Furthermore, this paper summarizes various psychotherapeutic approaches which have been considered for this vulnerable patient population. Finally, we provide the rationale based on the Dignity Model for a psychotherapeutic intervention we have coined Dignity Therapy. This brief, individualized therapeutic approach has been informed by our dignity work, and specifically designed for application in patients nearing death.