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All hospice workers share responsibility for emotional support of patients. The effectiveness of this support depends on accurate assessments of patients 'mental and emotional status. The use of psychological models assist in understanding patients and make it easier to develop appropriate and effective interventions. Several psychological models are used to 1) assist in the spiritual care or supportive counseling of patients who seek to resolve issues or find closure in their lives; or 2) support patients who exhibit patterns of avoidance and denial, supplemented by appropriate medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]