Breitbart, William; Gibson, Christopher; Poppito, Shannon R.; Berg, Amy. (2004).

     Psychotherapeutic Interventions at the End of Life: A Focus on Meaning and Spirituality.

     Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 49(6), 366-372, Retrieved February 17, 2008, from

     Academic Search Premier database (13481340).

Pain management for patients suffering with an advanced life-threatening illness, such as cancer, is now moving in the direction of non-traditional approaches.  Yoga, Buddhist philosophy, and existential psychotherapy are some forms of meaning centered approaches which encourage the ill to explore and seek understanding in life and in their death.  These forms of therapy give spiritual meaning and insight to the patients in their time of suffering. 

Sachs, Greg A., Shega, Joseph W., Cox-Hayley, Deon, (2004). Barriers to Excellent End-of-life

     Care for Patients with Dementia. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 19(10), 1057-1063,

     Retrieved February 16, 2008 from Academic Search Premier database (2004-19481-004).

Management of pain in the case of dementia is challenging.  Patients with advancing stages of dementia have dificulty interpretting pain and verbally communicating.  Establishment of non-verbal communicatory cues are crucial to recieve proper treatment. Dementia treatments vary from pharmacological to non-pharmacological. 

Pakenham, Kenneth I., (2007). Rehabilitation Psychology 52(4), 380-389, Retrieved

     February 16, 2008 from PsycArticles database (rep-52-4-380).

This article examined the how mutliple sclerosis patients adjust and make sense of their world. MS causes many social difficulties that in turn cause psychological problems.  There cause be a feeling of meaninglessness which causes lots of distress.  Patients who actively engage in achieving a new understanding of their reality within the illness become better adjusted.

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