• Esther L Davis, Frank P Deane, Geoffrey C B Lyons, and Gregory D Barclay.
• School of Psychology and Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW, Australia. Electronic address: eld458@uowmail.edu.au.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2017 Jul 1; 54 (1): 120-125.

ContextPatients in palliative care can experience substantial psychological suffering. Acceptance-based interventions from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy have demonstrated effectiveness in helping people cope with a range of life challenges. However, there is a dearth of research examining mechanisms of therapeutic change for patients in palliative care.ObjectivesTo assess the relationships between acceptance, anticipatory grief, anxiety, and depression among patients in palliative care.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was verbally administered to inpatients (N = 73) receiving palliative care.ResultsCorrelations revealed that acceptance had a strong relationship with anticipatory grief, anxiety, and depression. A hierarchical regression analysis on anticipatory grief showed that acceptance was the largest predictor and accounted for an additional 13% of variance in anticipatory grief over and above anxiety and depression.ConclusionThe present study provides preliminary data suggesting that interventions that target acceptance may be indicated in patients in palliative care.Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. All rights reserved.

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