'Exposure Therapy' May Relieve Prolonged Grief Disorder
'Exposure Therapy' May Relieve Prolonged Grief Disorder
Reliving the death of a loved one can help survivors, researchers say
The report was published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
"This study shows the value of helping people think about the time of the death," said Dr. Katherine Shear, a director of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia School of Social Work in New York City.
"People need an acceptable account of the circumstances of the death consistent with a belief in the world as essentially benign," she said. In other words, they need to accept dying as a natural part of living and not see it as a punishment.
Simon Rego, director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, said prolonged grief disorder is not officially recognized as a psychological disorder. Even so, although some controversy exists around exactly how and when it should be diagnosed, "the syndrome is thought to pose a serious public health problem," he said.
Grief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy -- CBT plus exposure therapy -- has been shown in the research to be effective in treating prolonged grief disorder, Rego said.
However, he added, many clinicians are unaware of this treatment option for prolonged grief disorder. Instead, Rego said, they "rely on providing interventions to grieving people that are not empirically supported, or are reluctant to use exposure therapy because of the misconception that it can increase the patient's distress."
'Exposure Therapy' and Prolonged Grief Disorder
Reliving the death of a loved one can help survivors, researchers say
The report was published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
"This study shows the value of helping people think about the time of the death," said Dr. Katherine Shear, a director of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia School of Social Work in New York City.
"People need an acceptable account of the circumstances of the death consistent with a belief in the world as essentially benign," she said. In other words, they need to accept dying as a natural part of living and not see it as a punishment.
Simon Rego, director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, said prolonged grief disorder is not officially recognized as a psychological disorder. Even so, although some controversy exists around exactly how and when it should be diagnosed, "the syndrome is thought to pose a serious public health problem," he said.
Grief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy -- CBT plus exposure therapy -- has been shown in the research to be effective in treating prolonged grief disorder, Rego said.
However, he added, many clinicians are unaware of this treatment option for prolonged grief disorder. Instead, Rego said, they "rely on providing interventions to grieving people that are not empirically supported, or are reluctant to use exposure therapy because of the misconception that it can increase the patient's distress."
