Psychotherapeutic Interventions Near the End of Life: Theory, Evidence, and Future Directions

Abstract

This special issue of the Australian Psychologist on psychology at the end of life is most timely in view of the rising prevalence and mortality rates from cancer and other non‐communicable diseases, largely due to the ageing of the world's population. An important focus in the papers in this edition is the subjective experience of patients and families and interventions that involve empathy, meaning‐making, and narrative construction. This focus is a departure, in some respects, from the recent emphasis in psychology and psychiatry on interventions more specifically directed to cognitions and behaviour. It may also reflect a renewed interest in subjectivity and/or an awareness of the importance of such approaches in the treatment of patients and families living with advanced and terminal disease. I will discuss each of these papers in this edition and summarise briefly the work of our group on a psychotherapeutic intervention for patients with metastatic and advanced cancer.