Die Todesthematik in der Medizinischen Psychologie

Reviewing available publications, the present article deals with thanatopsychology, the scientific discipline of death and dying, from a medical psychological perspective. It presents and discusses research findings, assessment instruments, and issues of application. A focus is on attitudinal dimensions towards dying and death with special reference to assessment techniques. Further topics are communicating with patients about the issue, the process of dying, the psycho-social care of dying adults, the stress imposed on the care givers, mourning and grief related clinical interventions, and, finally, issues of medical education. Further research is needed to broaden the empirical basis of the discipline.