• Kathryn Levy, Pei C Grant, Rachel M Depner, David J Byrwa, Debra L Luczkiewicz, and Christopher W Kerr.
• Palliative Care Institute, Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Cheektowaga, New York.
• J Palliat Med. 2020 Mar 1; 23 (3): 319-324.

AbstractBackground: End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) can provide both meaning and comfort to individuals nearing death. While research has examined the prevalence and content of ELDVs, little is known on how dreaming at end of life may affect psychological processes. Objective: This study aimed to explore differences in posttraumatic growth (PTG) between hospice patients who experience ELDVs and hospice patients who do not experience this phenomenon. Design: This is a multimethod cross-sectional comparison study. Settings/Subjects: 70 hospice patients (35 with ELDV experiences and 35 without ELDV experiences) were recruited after being admitted to a hospice inpatient unit. Measurements: PTG was assessed using a modified version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Demographic information, ELDV occurrence, and a brief description of ELDVs were also collected. Results: Significant differences emerged between groups in terms of personal strength (p = 0.012), spiritual change (p = 0.002), and overall PTG (p = 0.019). Patients with ELDV experiences had higher scores on all subscales as well as overall PTG compared to nondreaming patients. Conclusions: Dreams and visions at the end of life affect PTG of dying individuals in hospice care. Further research should be conducted between groups to examine the effects ELDVs may have on other psychological processes.

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