The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
Psychotherapy of Traumatic Grief: A Review of Evidence for Psychotherapeutic Treatments
Authors:
Jacobs, Sally
Prigerson, Holly
Source:
Death Studies: 2000. Volume 24, Issue 6, pp. 479-495.
Summary
This article introduces and presents a full description of the concept of Traumatic Grief as a new diagnostic disorder. It also includes a review of psychotherapy treatments from controlled clinical trials of separation anxiety disorders in children and pathological grief in adults. Treatments commented on include: crisis intervention, brief dynamic psychotherapy, behavior therapies, and group therapy. The authors note that many studies of interventions do not include control groups, and the efficacy of many interventions remains in question. The article concludes with a statement of conviction that a specific therapy for Traumatic Grief will be identified, developed, and proven effective.
Key words: ethic, child, parent, research
Service Provider Implications
This article reflects an important historical development in the conceptualization of grief that might be considered pathological.
