Complicated grief treatment: the theory, practice and outcomes

Bereave Care. 2010 Jan 1;29(3):10-14. doi: 10.1080/02682621.2010.522373.

Abstract

Many people resist the notion that grief could be considered a mental disorder, but the depth of some bereaved people's distress can mean they experience very great difficulty in progressing through the natural healing process. This article outlines an attachment theory perspective on the concept of complicated grief and a research-validated treatment (complicated grief therapy) that has been found to be effective in helping people address impediments that keep them from integrating the new reality of their lives.