Mental Health Risk in Palliative Care

Abstract

AbstractDisease-modifying treatment and medical advancements have extended life expectancy for those with serious or chronic illnesses, and providers and insurers have recognized that patients and families may live for long periods of time with debilitating symptoms, side effects, and psychosocial distress. These may create or exacerbate risks for mental health conditions that can impede medical care. These risks must be accurately assessed if they are to be treated effectively. Social workers play an integral role as the primary mental health providers on palliative care teams. Training in biopsychosocial assessment, including assessing for symptoms that represent the diagnostic criteria for mental disorders, equips social workers to collaborate with the interdisciplinary team and provide therapeutic interventions to address these. This chapter utilizes a review of the literature and a case narrative to illustrate the complexity of assessment and the importance of a multifaceted team approach to the care of patients and families experiencing distress.