Dr. Bob Niemeyer describes our lives as a tapestry, and grief as the experience of having one – sometimes significant and integral – thread pulled from that tapestry. Grief feels as though our lives have been ripped apart. The process of managing grief is putting the tapestry back together in a way that preserves the significance and influence of the one thread, and allows us to continue weaving in new threads. For most, acute grief attenuates enough naturally within approximately six months that it does not interrupt daily functioning. For a subset of the population, however, severe symptoms, known as Complicated Grief, persist and are associated with clinically significant distress, disability, physical illness, and mortality, (Shear et al, 2011). Given the large body of conclusive research, complicated grief was proposed for the DSM-V, but is not expected to be included, despite the efforts of many. The evidence indicates, however, that clinicians should assess for and appropriately treat complicated grief among their bereaved clients.
GENERAL
Boelen, P.A., van de Schoot, R., van den Hout, M.A., de Keijser, J., & van den Bout. J. (2010). Prolonged Grief Disorder, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder are distinguishable syndromes. Journal of Affective Disorders, 125 (1-3), 374-8.
Boelen, P.A., van de Schoot, R., van den Hout, M.A., de Keijser, J., & van den Bout. J. (2010). Prolonged Grief Disorder, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder are distinguishable syndromes. Journal of Affective Disorders, 125 (1-3), 374-8.
Ellifritt, J., Nelson, K., & Walsh, D. (2003). Complicated bereavement: A national survey of potential risk factors. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 20,114-120. Bereavement Risk Factor Questionnaire is In appendix of article.
Ellifritt, J., Nelson, K., & Walsh, D. (2003). Complicated bereavement: A national survey of potential risk factors. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 20,114-120. Bereavement Risk Factor Questionnaire is In appendix of article.
Prigerson, H.G., Horowitz, M.J., Jacobs, S.C., Parkes, C.M., Aslan, M., Goodkin, K., Raphael, B., Marwit, S.J., Wortman, C., Neimeyer, R.A., Bonanno, G., Block, S.D., Kissane, D., Boelen, P., Maercker, A., Litz, B.T., Johnson, J.G., First, M.B., & Maciejewski, P.K. (2009). Prolonged grief disorder: Psychometric validation of criteria proposed for DSM-V and ICD-11. PLoS Medicine, 6(8): e1000121.
Prigerson, H.G., Horowitz, M.J., Jacobs, S.C., Parkes, C.M., Aslan, M., Goodkin, K., Raphael, B., Marwit, S.J., Wortman, C., Neimeyer, R.A., Bonanno, G., Block, S.D., Kissane, D., Boelen, P., Maercker, A., Litz, B.T., Johnson, J.G., First, M.B., & Maciejewski, P.K. (2009). Prolonged grief disorder: Psychometric validation of criteria proposed for DSM-V and ICD-11. PLoS Medicine, 6(8): e1000121.
Qualls, S. H. & Kasl-Godley, J. E. (Eds.) (2010). End-of-life issues, grief, and bereavement: What clinicians need to know . [Wiley Series in Clinical Geropsychology]. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons
Qualls, S. H. & Kasl-Godley, J. E. (Eds.) (2010). End-of-life issues, grief, and bereavement: What clinicians need to know . [Wiley Series in Clinical Geropsychology]. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons
Schulz, R., Boerner, K., & Shear, K. (2006). Predictors of Complicated Grief Among Dementia Caregivers: A Prospective Study of Bereavement. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14 (8), 650-658.
Schulz, R., Boerner, K., & Shear, K. (2006). Predictors of Complicated Grief Among Dementia Caregivers: A Prospective Study of Bereavement. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14 (8), 650-658.
Stroebe, M., Hansson, R., Schut, H., & Stroebe, W. [Eds.] (2007). Handbook of Bereavement Research and Practice: 21st Century Perspectives. Washington DC: American Psychological Association Press.
Stroebe, M., Hansson, R., Schut, H., & Stroebe, W. [Eds.] (2007). Handbook of Bereavement Research and Practice: 21st Century Perspectives. Washington DC: American Psychological Association Press.
ASSESSMENT
Look at the extensive assessment database of geriatric measures from the University of Alabama’s Alabama Research Institute on Aging! Register for access to the database HERE.
Boelen, P. & Lensvelt-Mulders, G. (2005). Psychometric properties of the Grief Cognitions Questionnaire (GCQ). Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 27, 291–303.
Boelen, P. & Lensvelt-Mulders, G. (2005). Psychometric properties of the Grief Cognitions Questionnaire (GCQ). Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 27, 291–303.
Ellifritt, J., Nelson, K., & Walsh, D. (2003). Complicated bereavement: A national survey of potential risk factors. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 20,114-120. Bereavement Risk Factor Questionnaire is In appendix of article.
Ellifritt, J., Nelson, K., & Walsh, D. (2003). Complicated bereavement: A national survey of potential risk factors. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 20,114-120. Bereavement Risk Factor Questionnaire is In appendix of article.
Faschingbauer, T., Zisook, S. & DeVaul, R. (1987). The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief. In S. Zisook (Ed.), Biopsychosocial aspects of bereavement. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
Faschingbauer, T., Zisook, S. & DeVaul, R. (1987). The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief. In S. Zisook (Ed.), Biopsychosocial aspects of bereavement. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTTS). List of grief measures with citations and descriptions.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTTS). List of grief measures with citations and descriptions.
Prigerson, H.G., & Maciejewski, P. Complicated Grief Assessment Tool.
Prigerson, H.G., & Maciejewski, P. Complicated Grief Assessment Tool.
Rubin SS, Nadav OB, Malkinson R, Koren D, Goffer-Shnarch M, Michaeli E. (2009) The two-track model of bereavement questionnaire (TTBQ): development and validation of a relational measure. Death Studies, 33(4), 305-33.
Rubin SS, Nadav OB, Malkinson R, Koren D, Goffer-Shnarch M, Michaeli E. (2009) The two-track model of bereavement questionnaire (TTBQ): development and validation of a relational measure. Death Studies, 33(4), 305-33.
Zhang, B., El-Jawahri, A., & Prigerson, H. G. (2006). Update on bereavement research. Evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of complicated bereavement. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9 (5), 1188-1203.
Zhang, B., El-Jawahri, A., & Prigerson, H. G. (2006). Update on bereavement research. Evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of complicated bereavement. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9 (5), 1188-1203.
TREATMENT
American Psychological Association (Producer). (2007). Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults with Depression . [DVD]. http://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310796.aspx
American Psychological Association (Producer). (2007). Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults with Depression . [DVD]. http://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310796.aspx
Bambauer, K.Z. & Prigerson, H.G. (2006). The Stigma Receptivity Scale and its association with mental health service use among bereaved older adults. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 194(2), 139-141.
Bambauer, K.Z. & Prigerson, H.G. (2006). The Stigma Receptivity Scale and its association with mental health service use among bereaved older adults. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 194(2), 139-141.
Neimeyer, R. A. (Ed.). (2012). Techniques of grief therapy . London: Routledge.
Neimeyer, R. A. (Ed.). (2012). Techniques of grief therapy: Creative practices for counseling the bereaved. London: Routledge.
Neimeyer, R. A., Harris, D. L., Winokuer, H. R., & Thornton, G. F. (Eds.). (2011). Grief and bereavement in contemporary society: Bridging research and practice . London: Routledge.
Neimeyer, R. A., Harris, D. L., Winokuer, H. R., & Thornton, G. F. (Eds.). (2011). Grief and bereavement in contemporary society: Bridging research and practice . London: Routledge.
Shear, K., Frank, E., Houck, P., & Reynolds, C. (2005). Treatment of complicated grief. A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 293 (21), 2601-2608.
Shear, K., Frank, E., Houck, P., & Reynolds, C. (2005). Treatment of complicated grief. A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 293 (21), 2601-2608.
Worden, J.W. (2008). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner (4 th ed.). New York: Springer.
Worden, J.W. (2008). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner (4 th ed.). New York: Springer.
Zhang, B., El-Jawahri, A., & Prigerson, H. G. (2006). Update on bereavement research. Evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of complicated bereavement. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9 (5), 1188-1203.
Zhang, B., El-Jawahri, A., & Prigerson, H. G. (2006). Update on bereavement research. Evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of complicated bereavement. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9 (5), 1188-1203.