Jul 14, 2022
This episode features researchers from the the University of
Cologne (Germany) from the Faculty of Human Sciences and Faculty of
Medicine, Graduate School GROW – Gerontological Research on
Well-being, and also the Faculty of Medicine and University
Hospital, Department of Palliative Medicine. The researchers
are Helena Kukla, Angélique Herrler, Dr Julia Strupp and Professor
Raymomd Voltz.
Awareness of one’s impending death can lead to existential
distress, thus impairing psychological comfort and general
well-being. Psychosocial support as an emerging need can alleviate
symptoms of distress and enhance well-being. Research on
behavioral and mental confrontation with one’s own end of life and
its effects on measures of psychological comfort is limited.
Evaluated approaches of confronting the own end of life can be
grouped into psychosocial interventions, meaning-enhancing
interventions, educational courses and experiential learning. The
effects of evaluated approaches show a clear trend toward an
increase in well-being and a decrease in anxiety and depression.
Low-threshold opportunities that fulfil psychosocial needs beyond
medical treatment and focus on confronting end of life should
be implemented.
The opportunity to confront the end of life and address existential
questions should become an area of greater focus within
patient-centered care. The variety of approaches of confronting the
end of life and their effects need to be investigated, as do the
underlying mechanisms of action. In light of the scarcity of actual
evidence, the focus should be particularly on individual coping
strategies.