psychosocial status of elderly terminal cancer patients is

related to the degree of their illness. In the present

study, higher values on all indices of psychological

vulnerability were associated with being closer to death.

Although none were statistically significant at the .05

level, the strongest associations were between the closeness

to death and denial, powerlessness, and exhaustion.

Methods of the psychosocial analysis

 The conclusions regarding the methods of psychosocial

evaluation are as follows:

 1. The findings of the psychosocial analysis were

based on information collected through an interview and

recorded on a rating scale for psychosocial vulnerability.

Considering the degree of physical disability and debilita-

tion that is often experienced by elderly terminal cancer

patients, the interview procedure is a practical and

productive approach to this kind of study. It allows for a

measure of flexibility that is required in the collection of

information from individuals who are very ill. The patients

who participated in this study were responsive to the

questions asked and the content of the interview was

relevant to their concerns.

 2. In spite of the relative simplicity of the rating

method used for the psychosocial variables, this method is a

useful means of measuring various types and degrees of