Abstract
Dynamic development of palliative care reflects the growing incidence of chronic illnesses in population caused by general demographic changes and technological achievements in medicine. Multidisciplinary approach of palliative care is focused on physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems of terminally ill patients and their families and can not only improve their quality of life but also prolong the patients' survival.
Two thirds of patients at the end of life suffer from psychiatric syndromes such as depression, anxiety and delirium. Their etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment are often influenced by advanced primary illness and its treatment.
Standardized diagnostic tools may not be appropriate. Treatment choices may be influenced by short prognosis and multiple symptomatic pharmacotherapy.
Due to the high incidence of psychiatric syndromes and their complexity at the end of life, the cooperation between psychiatrist and the palliative care team is highly commended.