The Conceptualization and Assessment of Family Dynamics in Terminal Care

ABSTRACT

The terminal-stage literature, while stressing the importance of family in treatment, lacks studies on how families cope with disease and the relationship between the patient and the family. This paper: (a) describes the current state of model-building and research on family functioning from the standpoint of the family-stress, family-systems, and terminal-disease literatures; (b) examines 6 models of family functioning which relate theory to family assessment techniques, and (c) suggests research directions, utilizing these models and assessment techniques, for studying families with terminal illness in hospice programs.

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Notes on contributors

Julie Meranze Levitt

Julie Meranze Levitt, PhD, is a clinical associate at the Marriage Council of Philadelphia, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and a clinical psychologist in private practice. Address correspondence to: 33 E. Princeton Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.