Treatment of Depression and Anxiety at End of Life
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 October 2024
The primary care provider is often the first clinician to recognize the high burden of life-prolonging treatment for a resident who has limited life expectancy and high medical and neurocognitive comorbidity. Palliative care refers to specialized medical care provided to individuals with serious illnesses or conditions that are not curable. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for patients by alleviating symptoms, managing pain, and addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs associated with their condition. Clinical depression is relatively common at the end of life. The prevalence of major depressive disorder at the end of life for cancer patients is estimated to be between 5-20%. Choose psychotropic medications that have a quicker response time when possible. Examples include stimulants for depressive symptoms and benzodiazepines for anxiety. SSRI’s, SNRI’s, and other more commonly prescribed medications for depression and anxiety may take up to four to six weeks for clinical response.
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