Psycho-oncology
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The psychological outcome of family carers after bereavement is an important issue in evaluating palliative care services. Palliative care services have the potential to provide preventive psychosocial intervention to family carers prior to bereavement, but are faced with the need to identify those who may have greatest risk of adverse outcome. This prospective study examines predictors of psychological outcome for family carers of cancer patients following bereavement based on factors identified at referral to a palliative care agency. ⋯ The findings indicate clinical risk factors for adverse short-term bereavement outcome that can be identified in family carers during palliative care treatment, that have implications for identifying the psychological needs of carers, and that form a potential basis for interventions to enhance the psychological outcome for family carers.