Affiliations: Institut für Psychologie der Universität
Würz-burg | Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und
Medizinische Soziologie der Universität Leipzig | Institut für Medizinische Psychologie der
Universität Marburg
Note: [] Korrespondenzadresse: Prof. Dr. J. Wittkowski, Praxis
für Psychologische Diagnostik und Bera-tung, Bremenweg 30, 97084
Würzburg. E-mail: j.wittkowski@psychologie.uni-wuerzburg.de
Abstract: 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.
Keywords: attitudes toward dying and death, bereavement, care of the dying, dying process, grief and mourning, medical psychology, thanatopsychology
