Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand sociodemographic changes and their impact on terminal illness and recognise the different settings where psychiatric issues impinge on terminal care

• recognise the most common psychiatric presentations in the terminally ill – adjustment, depression, anxiety and panic, delirium and dementia

• tailor appropriate management strategies to these conditions

• appreciate particular psychopharmacology prescribing issues in the terminally ill – in particular those relating to antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics and psychostimulants

• appreciate psychiatric complications of physical medicine prescribing in the terminal ill – in particular those relating to opiates and steroids 
   
• understand psychodynamic and psychological processes common in terminal illness care in patients and carers.

Following the optional appendix section, you should:

• have an awareness of the following legal aspects of terminal illness care: capacity and consent, Mental Health Act detention, making a will and testamentary capacity.

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