This practical manual presents the main drugs and protocols currently used in the psychopharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders in cancer and palliative care settings and explores the principal issues involved in such treatment. Significant clinical challenges encountered in the psychopharmacological management of various psychiatric conditions are discussed, covering aspects such as side-effects and drug-drug interactions. Attention is also paid to the emerging theme of adjuvant use of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of symptoms or syndromes not primarily related to psychiatric disorders. In addition, practical suggestions are provided for dealing with special populations, including children and the elderly. The book is designed to be easy to read and to reference, with helpful concise tables and boxes. The authors include some of the most renowned clinicians working in the field of psycho-oncology.

This book guides clinicians in facilitating the improved treatment of emotional distress in cancer patients through psychopharmacologic intervention. It is designed for both prescribing and non-prescribing clinicians in psychosocial oncology, psychiatry, psychology, oncology, and palliative care.

"Clinicians who care for adult cancer patients have many tools to manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, cognitive changes, insomnia and fatigue. Non-prescribing clinicians, such as psychologists, nurses, social workers, and occupational and physical therapists provide frontline psychosocial interventions and physical support for cancer patients. Psychotropic treatments are sometimes required to resolve complex syndromes which mingle both medical and psychiatric features. Psychiatric medications are most frequently prescribed to cancer patients by oncologists, general medical practitioners, general psychiatrists, and psychiatric advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as few oncology practices have dedicated psycho-oncologists. Non-prescribing practitioners who care for people with cancer are often the first to identify a psychiatric syndrome that requires a referral for psychopharmacologic intervention. They can also play an important role in educating patients about how psychopharmacologic agents can augment their cancer care. After psychotropic medications are started, non-prescribers can observe for improvement, and detect problematic side effects if they arise, thus improving adherence with medication regimens. Practitioners who read this book will benefit from the highlighted clinical pearls to follow, and the potholes to avoid, regarding the tricky diagnostics and pharmacologic treatment of psychiatric syndromes. All clinicians will learn communication strategies that bridge distances of professional specialty and geography, so treatment by multiple providers may be more seamless, which hopefully will enrich outcomes, both medical and emotional"--

In recent years, palliative care has emerged as the leading model of person-centered care focused on preserving quality of life and alleviating distress for people and families experiencing serious and life-limiting medical illness. Alongside this development has come a growing recognition of the need for expertise in psychiatric diagnosis, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy within the interdisciplinary team of specialists tasked with identifying and addressing the varied sources of suffering in patients with advanced medical illnesses. The Clinical Manual of Palliative Care Psychiatry was written to motivate and guide readers -- whether mental health clinicians or palliative care providers -- to deepen their understanding of the psychosocial dimensions of suffering for the benefit of seriously ill patients and the support of their families. Great care has been exercised in the choice of topics and features: Chapter content emphasizes practical aspects of assessment and management that are unique to the palliative care setting, ensuring that clinicians are equipped to address the most common challenges they are likely to face. Each chapter ends with a list of supplemental materials -- including key publications (e.g., "Fast Facts" from the Center to Advance Palliative Care) and links to relevant modules from the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care curriculum (e.g., EPEC for Oncology) -- aimed at extending and enhancing reader knowledge of the topics covered. The authors provide thorough coverage of medication use, including off-label applications, which are common in palliative care. A wealth of tables and figures present clinically relevant information in a concise and easy-to-grasp manner. Practical and brimming with essential information and useful techniques, the Clinical Manual of Palliative Care Psychiatry empowers both mental health clinicians and palliative care practitioners to more skillfully respond to psychosocial suffering in seriously ill and dying patients.

This work complements the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine and The Handbook of Psychooncology. Topics include the role of psychiatry in terminal care, diagnosis and management of depression, suicide in the terminally ill, pain management, the nature of suffering in terminal illness, and psychotherapeutic interventions. The book also takes into consideration new directions for psychosocial palliative care research.

One of the most challenging roles of the psycho-oncologist is to help guide terminally-ill patients through the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of the dying process. Patients with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses are at increased risk for the development of major psychiatric complications, and have an enormous burden of both physical and psychological symptoms. This title guides the psycho-oncologist through the most salient aspects of effective psychiatric care of patients with advanced illnesses.

Management of Clinical Depression and Anxiety provides a brief set of clinical guidelines for handling clinical depression and anxiety in cancer patients. Using a practical toolkit format, this volume covers a variety of topics including: assessment methods, treatment methods, psychiatric emergencies and disorders, policies, service and ethical issues, confidentiality, and communication issues. Self-assessment quizzes round out each chapter, and the volume concludes with an appendix of patient screening tools. Part of the Psycho-oncology Care: Companion Guides for Clinicians series, this highly readable, concise pocket guide is an ideal resource for oncology clinicians and mental health professionals training in psycho-oncology to use as a quick reference in everyday practice.