New Therapy Helps Dying Patients Find Peace

After working with many patients who were dying, a Canadian psychiatrist concluded that what troubled these patients the most was that after their death, who they were would cease to exist. They feared that they would leave nothing behind or that they would not be remembered in the way they hoped. For example, the psychiatrist, Dr. Harvey Chochinov, was startled to see a photo of a muscle-bound bodybuilder next to the bed of a frail old man dying from a brain tumor. It was clear that the man wanted to be remembered as he had been when the photo was taken—young and healthy, not shriveled and helpless. Based on this and similar cases, Dr. Chochinov developed a new therapy to help terminal patients cope with their impending death.  He calls the method dignity therapy.

It works like this: A trained therapist asks the patient a series of questions about his or her life and the parts or events they see as most important. The interview process can require many visits. The answers are written down and returned to the patient for review. After editing, the therapist compiles the narrative into a printed document. One woman’s life story came to 50 pages.

Some patients “revise” their lives, remembering only happy times or reinterpreting events according to private perceptions. Other patients are brutally honest—with themselves and with those who will read their testimony. Some patients use their stories to apologize for mistakes they had made. One alcoholic patient told his life story so that his grandchildren would choose a different path. This is just one way dignity therapy can benefit the living as well as the dying.

Perhaps you have elderly relatives who would appreciate a chance to record their life stories. How would you go about helping them?

 Image credit: © Creatas/Jupiterimages/Getty Images

Related Links

• For the Dying, a Chance to Rewrite Life
  Listen to the story or read about dignity therapy here.
  (Source: National Public Radio, September 12, 2011)
• “Dignity Therapy” Gives Comfort to Dying Patients
  This article summarizes the results of a study by Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov of the University of Manitoba.
  (Source: Lancet Oncology and WebMD, July 6, 2011)
• Saving Lives . . . One Story at a Time
  On this Web site, the Association of Personal Historians offers advice on writing a life story.
  (Source: Association of Personal Historians; accessed September 30, 2011)