Living with loss: a cognitive approach to prolonged grief disorder – incorporating complicated, enduring and traumatic grief

Journal article

Abstract This paper explored the psychological and emotional effects of traumatic grief, focusing on its impact on individuals who experienced sudden or violent loss. Traumatic grief is often linked to mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), which can greatly affect a person\u27s emotional and psychological well-being. The paper examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Therapy (TFT) in treating these conditions, focusing on how these therapies address both trauma and grief at the same time. Additionally, the literature review highlighted the importance of early intervention in reducing the long-term effects of traumatic grief and emphasized the need for culturally sensitive treatments to improve their relevance and impact. The review summarized recent research data to identify key strategies that could improve current therapeutic practices and guide future interventions. It suggested that combining trauma-focused therapies like CBT and TFT with grief-centered approaches provides a more comprehensive treatment plan, leading to better emotional regulation, social functioning, and overall recovery. The paper also called for more individualized treatment plans that consider a person’s personal history and cultural background to achieve the best therapeutic outcomes. The goal was to contribute to the development of more effective, integrated, and culturally sensitive interventions for those affected by traumatic grief

Authors: Duffy, M; Wild, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Journal: Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 645-658
• Publication date: 2023-05-12
• DOI: 10.1017/s1352465822000674
• EISSN: 1469-1833
• ISSN: 1352-4658
• Language: English
• Keywords: Psychotherapist; Action (physics); Traumatic grief; Content (measure theory); Cognition; Psychiatry; Psychoanalysis; Grief; Psychology