Citation

Naudeillo Cosp M, Fustero AE, Ayma DQ, Pares JJ, Fernandez MA, Aparicio AR, Anton NS. Medicina Paliativa 2012; 19(1): 10-16.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012)

DOI

10.1016/j.medipa.2010.11.007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Relatives of patients admitted to a Palliative Care Unit (PCU) are at high risk for many distressing symptoms. Our aim is to describe the intervention done with the bereaved families of patients who died in a PCU, analyzing the psychological support needs detected and the clinical team's answers. Material and Methods: Descriptive prospective study was carried out during one year (February 2009-February 2010) based on telephone interviews with families of patients who had died in the PCU. One month after death, the psychologist makes a first semi-structured interview with the main carer, to assess emotional situation and identify risk factors for complicated grief. Psychological intervention is arranged according to the identified needs.

RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy one patients died in the center, out of which 234 relatives were contacted by phone. Kinship, gender and average age were spouse, female and 78 years old. Thirty five relatives required specific follow up by the psychologists. Cases that showed more complexity were one suicide attempt, 9 cases with severe depression, 5 cases struggling to deal with daily life problems, 8 cases of delayed grief and 3 cases of complicated grief.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of cases requiring specialized psychological care has been low. Psychological intervention has promoted adaptative grieving in the bereaved families. Monitoring and follow up are essential to identify those relatives that have actually required a specific intervention to prevent and treat properly complicated grief. © 2010 Sociedad Española de Cuidados Paliativos. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Language: es

Keywords

human; gender; female; male; aged; family; depression; Psychological distress; suicide attempt; bereavement; risk factor; Palliative care; death; article; major clinical study; hospital admission; emotion; grief; palliative therapy; psychologist; follow up; prospective study; descriptive research; teleconsultation; semi structured interview; Abnormal grief