The principal psychopharmacological drugs used with terminally ill persons were briefly reviewed, and special consideration for various terminal illnesses were discussed. Sections on the analgesic effects of psychotropic drugs, the psychotropic properties of opioids, the beneficial effects of marijuana, and the use of LSD in terminal cancer patients are included.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AyusoJ. L. (1994). Use of psychotropic drugs in patients with HIV infection. Drugs, 47, 599–610.
2.
BlakelyK. B. (1975). Chronic renal failure: A study of death anxiety in dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Dissertation Abstracts International, 38 (7-B), 3381.
3.
BodkinJ. A.ZornbergG. L.LukasS. E., & ColeJ. O. (1995). Buprenorphine Treatment of refractory depression. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 15, 49–57.
4.
BraterD. C. (1985). Resistance to loop diuretics. Why it happens and what to do about it. Drugs, 30, 427–443.
5.
BreitbartW. (1998). Psychotropic adjuvant analgesics for pain in cancer and aids. Psycho-Oncology, 7, 333–345.
6.
BrueraE., & NeumannC. M. (1998). The use of psychotropics in symptom management in advanced cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 7, 346–358.
7.
CardenasD. D.WarmsC. A.TurnerJ. A.MarshallH.BrookeM. M., & LoeserJ. D. (2002). Efficacy of amitriptyline for relief of pain in spinal cord injury: Results of randomized controlled trial. Pain, 96, 365–373.
8.
CarlsonE. T., & SimpsonM. M. (1963, May). Opium as a tranquilizer. Proceedings of the 119th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (pp. 112–117). St. Louis, MO.
9.
CheinI.GeraldD. L.LeeR. S., & RosenfeldE. (1964). The road to heroin.New York: Basic Books.
10.
ClarkP. A. (2000). The ethics of medical marijuana: Government restrictions vs. medical necessity. Journal of Public Health Policy, 21, 40–49.
11.
Corey-BloomJ., & GalascoD. (1995). Adjunctive therapy in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Drugs & Aging, 7, 79–87.
12.
CummingsJ. L. (2000). Cholinesterase inhibitors: A new class of psychotropic compounds. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 4–15.
13.
DefilippiJ. L., & CrismonM. L. (2000). Antipsychotic agents in patients with dementia. Pharmacotherapy, 20, 23–33.
14.
DeFlorioM., & MassieM. J. (1995). Review of depression in cancer: Gender differences. Depression, 3, 66.
15.
DevanandD. P.SackiemH. A., & MayeuxR. (1988). Psychosis, behavioral disturbance, and the use of neuroleptics in dementia. Comprehensive Psychiatry3, 784–790.
16.
DoughertyK.TemplerD. I., & BrownR. (1986). Psychological states in terminal cancer patients as measured over time. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 33,357–359.
17.
EllenS. R.JuddF. K.MijchA. M., & CockramA. (1999). Secondary mania in patients with HIV infection. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 353–360.
18.
EmrichH. M.VogtP., & HerzA. (1982). Possible antidepressive effects of opioids: Action of buprenorphine. Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 398, 108–112.
19.
FerrandoS. J., & WapenyiK. (2002). Psychopharmacological treatments of patients with HIV and AIDS. Psychiatric Quarterly, 78, 33–49.
20.
GibbsH. W., & Achterberg-LawlesL. J. (1978). Spiritual values and death anxiety: Implications for counseling with terminal cancer patients. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 25, 563–569.
21.
GoldM. S.PottashA. L. C.SweeneyD. R.KleberH. D., & RedmondE. (1979). Rapid opiate detoxification: Clinical evidence of antidepressant and antipanic effects of opiates. American Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 982–983.
22.
GrofS.GoodmanL.E.RichardsW. A., & KurlandA. A. (1973). LSD-assisted psychotherapy inpatients with teminal cancer. International Pharmacopsychiatry, 8, 129–144.
23.
HelmsP. M. (1985). Efficacy of antipsychotics in the treatment of the behavioral complications of dementia. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 33, 206–209.
24.
JacksonK. C.II, & LipmanA. G. (2000). Anxiety in palliative care patients. In LipmanA. G.JacksonK. C.II, & TylerL. S. (Eds.), Evidence-based symptom control in palliative care: Systematic reviews and validated clinical practice guidelines for 15 common problems with life limited disease (pp. 23–35). New York: Pharmaceutical Products Press.
25.
JohnsonJ.SimsR., & GottliebG. (1994). Differential diagnosis of dementia, delirium and depression: Implications for drug therapy. Drug Therapy, 5, 431–445.
26.
KastE. C. (1963). The analgesic action of lysergic acid compared with dihydro-morphinone and meperidine. Bulletin of Drug Adddiction Narcotics, 27, 3517–3529.
27.
KastE. C. (1964). Pain and LSD-25: A theory of attenuation and anticipation. In SolomonD. (Ed.), LSD-25: The Consciousness-Expanding Drug (pp. 241–256). New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
28.
KastE. C. (1966). LSD and the dying patient. Chicago Medical School Quarterly, 26, 80–87.
29.
KastE. C., & CollinsV. J. (1964). A study of lysergic acid diethylamide as an analgesic agent. Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Current Research, 43, 285–291.
30.
KnappM. J.KnopmanD. S.SolomonP. R.PendleburyW. W.DavisC. S., & GraconS. I. (1994). A 30-week randomized controlled trial of high-dose tacrine in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of American Medical Association, 271, 985–991.
31.
KrauthammerC., & KlermanG. L. (1978). Secondary mania: Manic syndromes associated with antecedent physical illness or drugs. Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 1333–1339.
32.
Kübler-RossE. (1969). On death and dying.New York: Macmillan.
33.
KurlandA. A. (1985). LSD in the supportive care of the terminally ill cancer patient. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 17, 279–290.
34.
LasserR. A., & SunderlandT. (1998). Newer psychotropic medication use in nursing home residents. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 46, 202–207.
35.
LevyN. B. (1985). Use of psychotropics in patients with kidney failure. Psychosomatics, 26, 699–709.
36.
LevyN. B. (1990). Psychopharmacology in patients with renal failure. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 20, 325–334.
37.
LipmanA. G. (2000). Evidence based palliative care. In LipmanA. G.JacksonK. C.II, & TylerL. S. (Eds.), Evidence-based symptom control in palliative care: Systematic reviews and validated clinical practice guidelines for 15 common problems with life limited disease (pp. 23–35). New York: Pharmaceutical Products Press.
38.
LonettoR., & TemplerD. I. (1986). Death anxiety.Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing Corp.
39.
LucasR. A. (1974). A comparative study of measures of general anxiety and death anxiety among three medical groups including patient and wife. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 5, 233–243.
40.
LucasL. K., & LipmanA. G. (2002). Recent advances in pharmacotherapy for cancer and pain management. Cancer Practice, 10(suppl. 1), 514–520.
41.
MalettaG. J. (1985). Medications to modify at-home behavior of Alzheimer's patients. Geriatrics, 40, 31–42.
42.
McKennaG. J. (1982). Methadone and opiate drugs: Psychotropic effect and self-medication. Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 398, 44–55.
43.
NehrkeM. F.MorgantiJ. B.WillrichR., & HulickaI. M. (1979). Health status, room size, and activity level: Research in an institutional setting. Environment and Behavior, 11, 451–463.
44.
NeustadtW. E. (1982). Death anxiety in elderly nursing home residents and amount of control received from staff: A correlational study. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Oregon, Eugene.
45.
NyswanderM. (1956). The drug addict as a patient.New York: Grune & Stratton.
46.
PahnkeW. N.KurlandA. A.GoodmanL. E., & RichardsW. A. (1969). LSD-assisted psychotherapy with terminal cancer patients. Current Psychiatric Therapies, 9, 144–152.
47.
RamerB. S.ZasloveM. O., & LanganJ. (1971). Is methadone enough? The use of ancillary treatment during methadone maintenance. American Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 1040–1044.
48.
ReichsmanF., & LevyN. B. (1972). Problems in adaptation to maintenance hemodialysis. A four-year study of 25 patients. Archives of Internal Medicine, 130, 859–865.
49.
RisseS. C., & BarnesR. (1986). Pharmacologic treatment of agitation associated with dementia. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 34, 368–376.
50.
RustomjeeS., & SmithG. C. (1996). Consultation-liaison psychiatry to renal medicine: Work with an inpatient unit. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 30, 229–237.
51.
SalzmanC. (1987). Treatment of the elderly agitated patient. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 48(suppl.), 19–22.
52.
SchneiderL. S.PollockV. E., & LynessS. A. (1990). A meta-analysis of controlled trials of neuroleptic treatment in dementia. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 38, 553–563.
53.
SemlaT. P.CohenD.FreelsS.PavezaG. J.AshfordJ. W.GorelickP.LuchinsD., & EisdorferC. (1995). Psychotropic drug use in relation to psychiatric symptoms in community-living persons with Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacotherapy, 15, 495–501.
54.
SkyA. J., & GrossbergG. T. (1994). The use of psychotropic medication in the management of problem behaviors in the patient with Alzheimer's disease. Medical Clinics of North America, 78, 811–822.
55.
SunderlandT., & SilverM. (1988). Neuroleptics in the treatment of dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 3, 79–88.
56.
TemplerD. I. (1971). Death anxiety as related to depression and health of retired persons. Journal of Gerontology, 26, 521–523.
57.
TemplerD. I. (1976). Two factor theory of death anxiety: A note. Essence, 1, 91–93.
58.
TemplerD. I.RuffC. F., & SimpsonK. (1974). Alleviation of high death anxiety with symptomatic treatment of depression. Psychological Reports, 35, 216.
59.
TrzepaczP.DiMartiniA., & TringaliR. (1993). Psychopharmacologic issues in organ transportation Part I: Pharmacokenetics in organ failure and psychiatric aspects of immunosuppressants and anti-infectious agents. Psychosomatics, 34, 199–207.
60.
VerebeyK.VolankaJ., & ClouetD. (1978). Endorphins in Psychiatry: An overview and a hypothesis. Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 877–888.
61.
WalshT. D. (1986). Controlled study of imipramine and morphine in chronic pain due to advanced cancer. Proceedings of American Society in Clinical Oncology, 5, 237.
62.
WarmsC. A.TurnerJ. A.MarshallH. M., & CardenasD. D. (2002). Treatment of chronic pain associated with spinal cord injuries: Many are tried, few are helpful. Clinical Journal of Pain, 18, 154–163.
63.
WeilA., & RosenW. (1993). From chocolate to morphine: Everything you need to know about mind-altering drugs.Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
64.
WeismanA. D., & KastenbaumR. (1968). A study of the terminal phase of life.New York: Community Mental Health Journal, Monograph No. 4.
65.
WellischD. K.GayG. R.WessonD. R., & SmithD. E. (1971). The psychotic heroin addict. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, 4, 46–49.
66.
WinkerM. A. (1994). Tacrine for Alzheimer's disease: Which patient, what dose?Journal of American Medical Association, 271, 1023–1024.
67.
ZuehlkeT. E., & WatkinsJ. T. (1975). The use of psychotherapy with dying patients: An exploratory study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 31, 729–732.