Traumatic grief treatment: a pilot study.

Abstract

The effects of a treatment program targeting debilitating grief symptoms were tested in a pilot study. Twenty-one individuals experiencing traumatic grief were recruited for participation, and 13 completed the full 4-month protocol. The treatment protocol used imaginal re-living of the death, in vivo exposure to avoided activities and situations, and interpersonal therapy. Significant improvement in grief symptoms and associated anxiety and depression was observed for both completer and intent-to-treat groups. The traumatic grief treatment protocol appears to be a promising intervention for debilitating grief.