Research in palliative care is developing rapidly. It includes several research disciplines, e.g. basic research investigating the pathophysiology of symptoms such as pain and fatigue, clinical trials, epidemiology, health services research, nursing research, research into psychosocial, existential, spiritual, and psychiatric issues, methodological research, and research into problems encountered by carers. Different methods are often combined. The research has mainly involved cancer patients but research in palliative care related to other diagnoses is increasing.