Topics in Palliative Care, Volume 5

This is the fifth book in a series devoted to research and practice in palliative care. This rapidly evolving field focuses on the management of phenomena that produce discomfort and that undermine the quality of life patients with incurable medical disorders. To highlight the diversity in this field, each volume is divided into sections that address a range of issues. Various sections discuss aspects of symptom control, psychosocial functioning, spiritual or existential concerns, ethics, and other topics. The 6 sections in this volume are Cultural Issues in Palliative Care, Palliative Care in Geriatrics, Communication Issues in Palliative Care, Outcomes Research in Palliative Care, Opiod Tolerance:; Reality or Myth?, and Pain and other Symptoms: Treatment Challenges. The authors present and evaluate existing data, provide a context drawn from both the clinic and research, and integrate knowledge in a manner that is both practical and readable.