Grief Reactions: A Neurobiological Approach

Author(s):  
Mary-Frances O’Connor ◽  
Mairead H. McConnell
Keyword(s):  
1984 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Laroche ◽  
M. Lalinec-Michaud ◽  
F. Engelsmann ◽  
N. Fuller ◽  
M. Copp ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Carlsson ◽  
Ingrid M. Nilsson

ABSTRACTObjectives:To improve the support to bereaved spouses during the year after the patient's death, a project was started consisting of three visits by a nurse (after 1, 3, and 13 months) with conversations about the patient's death and the spouse's life situation. The aim of this study was to describe the bereaved spouse's situation and adaptation during the first year after the loss.Methods:Spouses of patients cared for by The Advanced Home Care Team (APHCT) in Uppsala, Sweden, were invited to participate in the project. Each participant was encouraged to talk freely about his or her situation, but enough direction was given to ensure that all items listed on a standardized questionnaire were covered.Results:Fifty-one spouses met the inclusion criteria and were invited to participate and 45 accepted. The subjects felt quite healthy but were tired and suffered from sleep disturbance. The grief reactions had initially been high but showed a significant decline from 1 to 13 months (p < .01). Forty-nine percent had experienced postbereavement hallucinations.Significance of results:This study showed that the bereaved spouses felt quite healthy and adjusted quite well to their new life situation, after the patient's death in a palliative care setting. The grief reactions had initially been high but showed a significant decline during the year.


2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iren Johnsen ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Stig Berge Matthiesen ◽  
Jon Christian Laberg

This article presents results from one of the first longitudinal studies exploring the effects of losing a close friend to traumatic death, focusing on complicated grief over time and how this is affected by avoidant behavior and rumination about the loss. The sample consists of 88 persons (76% women and 24% men, mean age = 21) who lost a close friend in the Utøya killings in Norway on July 22, 2011.Quantitative data were collected at three time-points; 18, 28, and 40 months postloss. Main findings are that bereaved friends are heavily impacted by the loss and their grief reactions are affected negatively by avoidant behavior and rumination. This indicates that close bereaved friends are a group to be aware of and that there is a need for better strategies for identifying individuals in need for follow-up.


Crisis ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila E Clark ◽  
Robert D Goldney

Recent controlled studies have demonstrated that there are few quantitative, but a number of qualitative differences between those bereaved by suicide and those bereaved in other ways. Observations from participants in a support group of those bereaved through suicide are presented here. Guidelines are offered concerning therapy for those who are so clearly distressed by this mode of death.


1991 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Lewis Buck
Keyword(s):  

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Nader ◽  
Alison Salloum

2006 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Lawrence ◽  
Elizabeth L. Jeglic ◽  
Laura T. Matthews ◽  
Carolyn M. Pepper

This study examined gender differences in psychological functioning in a sample of college students who lost a parent to death. Male and female students ( n = 65) who had a parent that had died were asked to complete a series of self report questionnaires to assess psychological distress, feelings of grief and bereavement, and coping strategies. Overall, no gender differences were found between bereaved students on measures of psychological distress. However an avoidant coping style was related to symptoms of depression in females, but not in males. Students who lost a mother were more likely to report symptoms of depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation as compared to students who lost a father. Future research implications and the clinical importance of these findings are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn R. Grauerholz ◽  
Shandeigh N. Berry ◽  
Rebecca M. Capuano ◽  
Jillian M. Early

IntroductionThere is a paucity of clinical guidelines for the routine assessment of maladaptive reproductive grief reactions in outpatient primary care and OB-GYN settings in the United States. Because of the disenfranchised nature of perinatal grief reactions, many clinicians may be apt to miss or dismiss a grief reaction that was not identified in the perinatal period. A significant number of those experiencing a reproductive loss exhibit signs of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Reproductive losses are typically screened for and recorded numerically as part of a woman’s well-visit intake, yet this process often fails to identify patients emotionally troubled by a prior pregnancy loss.Materials and MethodsA summative content analysis of 164 recent website blogs from female participants who self-reported having experienced a miscarriage or abortion in their lifetime was conducted. The narratives were reviewed for details regarding the time span between the pregnancy loss and the composition of the blog post. The stories were analyzed for subsequent relationship problems and detrimental mental health conditions. Maladaptive reactions were contrasted for those that indicated a greater than 12 months’ time-lapse and those who had not.ResultsMore than a third (39.6%) of the women reported in the narrative that at least one year or more had passed since experiencing the miscarriage or abortion. For those women, the median time span between the loss and composing the blog was 4 years with a range of 47 years. Mental health conditions attributed to the reproductive loss by those who reported longer bereavement times included subsequent relationship problems, substance misuse, depression, suicidal ideation, and PTSD. The percent of reported maladaptive issues was more than double (136.9% vs. 63.6%) for those who reported that a year or more had passed since the loss of the pregnancy.DiscussionGrief reactions following the loss of a pregnancy may be prolonged or delayed for several months which can contribute to adverse biopsychosocial outcomes. Recognition and treatment of maladaptive grief reactions following a pregnancy loss are critical. Screening methods should be enhanced for clinicians in medical office settings to help identify and expedite the appropriate mental health assistance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Young

Purpose Bereavement and loss are key factors in poor emotional wellbeing among people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). However, little attention has been drawn to this group in the grief and disability literature. The purpose of this paper is to make sense of bereavement and loss in people with PMLD, with reference to theoretical contributions to the field and studies of grief reactions. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review revealed 34 relevant published works. These were analysed for relevant contributions. Findings Three main types of theoretical contributions have been made; traditional grief theories, cognitive approaches and attachment-based perspectives. Although a limited number of case studies exist, a range of grief reactions have been reported in people with PMLD. Traditional grief theories and cognitive approaches are somewhat limited in making sense of grief responses in this group, while attachment-based perspectives may prove useful in providing theoretical and therapeutic direction. Research limitations/implications Further research is required to more accurately describe the nature of relationships in people with PMLD. Practical implications Major contributions to the field point to the value of facilitating engagement with the grieving process, through communication around the loss and training for staff. In addition, attachment-based perspectives are offering routes for establishing therapeutic relationships that may help to resolve behavioural difficulties. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of the perspectives within bereavement and disability, drawing together clear theoretical frameworks for future research and practice.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document