Psychological Research in Hospice Care: Toward Specificity of Therapeutic Mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Psychosocial care is generally viewed as a core component of the hospice approach, yet little is known about its incremental contribution to effective care or about the specific form that it should take. Even less is known about how psychosocial care helps, when it helps. The present paper reviews common applications of psychological treatment in hospice and in the related literature of psychosocial oncology. Research and clinical issues are examined, toward recommendations for future research and prescriptive psychological intervention.