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Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2003) 9: 241-248
© 2003 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Psychiatric liaison in palliative care

Simon Dein

Simon Dein is a senior lecturer at University College London and a consultant psychiatrist at Princess Alexandra Hospital (The Derwent Centre, Hamstel Road, Harlow, Essex CM20 1QX, UK. Fax: 01279 454018; e-mail: jenny.lloyd{at}nemhpt.nhs.uk). He has an interest in the relation between psychiatry and palliative care and holds a diploma in palliative medicine from Cardiff University.

Palliative care is the active, total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Psychological problems such as depressive illness, anxiety, delirium, problems coping and body image disturbances are common in the palliative care setting, although they are often missed. A full assessment of these patients should take into account physical, emotional and spiritual factors; therapeutic work should include the patient’s family. Pharmacological (antidepressants, anxiolytics and antipsychotics) and cognitive–behavioural treatments are often effective in allaying distress in this group of patients, and can improve coping skills and quality of life. Liaison psychiatrists have a role in teaching palliative care staff to recognise psychiatric disorders. A number of case studies are presented to illustrate these points.




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[Abstract] [PDF]