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Behavioral Sciences
Special Issues
Advances in Clinical Interventions on Grief
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Advances in Clinical Interventions on Grief

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2968

Special Issue Editors

Dr. David Dias Dias Neto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Psychology, ISPA—Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
2. APPsyCI—Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities & Inclusion, ISPA—Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: mental health; clinical psychology; psychotherapy; change-processes; grief; illness perceptions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Manuela Alexandra Coelho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Medicine School, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
2. PsyLab, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
3. School of Psychology, ISPA—Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
4. APPsyCI—Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities & Inclusion, ISPA—Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: grief; palliative care

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Grief is a natural and universal human experience in response to loss. However, for a significant proportion of individuals, grief can manifest as pathological reactions that cause suffering and impairment. These reactions encompass a spectrum of psychological disorders, including Prolonged Grief Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Given the prevalence of problematic grief reactions, estimated to affect up to 20% of bereaved individuals, there is a pressing need to develop and improve effective clinical interventions. This Special Issue aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this critical area by focusing on the development, evaluation, and optimization of clinical interventions for grief. We invite submissions that investigate the following areas:

  1. Efficacy of clinical interventions: studies examining the effects of existing or novel psychological interventions designed to support individuals at various stages of the grieving process, from prevention and acute intervention to long-term therapeutic approaches.
  2. Tailoring variables for intervention: research exploring individual, interpersonal, or contextual factors that predict vulnerability to complicated grief or other pathological reactions, with the goal of facilitating early identification and targeted intervention.
  3. Mechanisms of change: investigations into the psychological processes that underlie therapeutic change in individuals undergoing grief interventions, with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness and personalization of treatment.

We welcome manuscripts from diverse disciplines, including psychology, epidemiology, psychiatry, and related fields. We encourage submissions of experimental, correlational, epidemiological, or intervention studies that advance our understanding of grief and its treatment. Case reports, reviews, and methodological articles will also be considered.

This Special Issue will, we believe, provide a valuable platform for disseminating cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration among researchers and clinicians dedicated to improving the lives of bereaved individuals.

Dr. David Dias Dias Neto
Dr. Manuela Alexandra Coelho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • grief
  • bereavement
  • prolonged grief disorder
  • mental health
  • therapy
  • psychological intervention
  • death
  • prevention
  • treatment
  • mechanisms of change

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 395 KiB  
Article
Empower-Grief for Relatives of Cancer Patients: Implementation and Findings from an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial
by David Dias Neto, Alexandra Coelho, Ana Nunes da Silva, Teresa Garcia Marques and Sara Albuquerque
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15070972 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 615
Abstract
Grief reactions among relatives of palliative care patients are often overlooked, with most interventions targeting Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) rather than its prevention. Few interventions have been developed for individuals at risk. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Empower-Grief, a selective [...] Read more.
Grief reactions among relatives of palliative care patients are often overlooked, with most interventions targeting Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) rather than its prevention. Few interventions have been developed for individuals at risk. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Empower-Grief, a selective intervention designed to address early problematic grief reactions and to explore predictors of its effectiveness. This exploratory randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared Empower-Grief with Treatment as Usual (TAU) among relatives or caregivers of palliative and oncological patients at risk of developing PGD. A total of 46 participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and six months later. The primary outcome was PGD symptoms, with additional measures including anxiety, depression, coping strategies, attachment style, psychological flexibility, post-traumatic growth, social support, and therapeutic alliance. The final analyses indicate equivalence between Empower-Grief and TAU, suggesting that both interventions yielded comparable outcomes in reducing PGD symptoms and associated psychological distress. The initial symptoms and therapeutic alliance were predictors of the results in both post- and follow-up moments. This study contributes to the evidence on grief interventions in palliative care, highlighting the importance of structured support for bereaved caregivers. While Empower-Grief demonstrated comparable effectiveness to TAU, its lower intensity, ease of training, and application make it a promising treatment option. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Clinical Interventions on Grief)
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20 pages, 780 KiB  
Article
Loss and Grief Among Bereaved Family Members During COVID-19 in Brazil: A Grounded Theory Analysis
by Paola Kallyanna Guarneri Carvalho de Lima, Carlos Laranjeira, Lígia Carreira, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi Baldissera, Viviani Camboin Meireles, Wanessa Cristina Baccon, Lashayane Eohanne Dias, Amira Mohammed Ali, Fernanda Fontes Mello, Maria Fernanda do Prado Tostes and Maria Aparecida Salci
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15060829 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 587
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countless losses around the world, profoundly affecting the lives of many people, especially those who faced the death of family members, bringing several negative repercussions to these families and constraining the experience of grief. This study aimed [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countless losses around the world, profoundly affecting the lives of many people, especially those who faced the death of family members, bringing several negative repercussions to these families and constraining the experience of grief. This study aimed to understand the experience of loss and grief among bereaved individuals who lost family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study was guided by Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory as a methodological framework. The study adhered to the Criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. Data collection took place between May and November 2023 through telephone interviews that were audio-recorded and later transcribed in full. The purposive sample consisted of 21 bereaved family members who had lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were mainly female (n = 16) with a mean age of 55.5 (SD = 16.2). The loss of their family members occurred 12 to 24 months before data collection. The following central phenomenon was identified through the analytical process: “Family experience of loss and grief: between the unspoken goodbye and post-loss adjustment”. This was anchored in the following three categories: (1) Anguish and fear of the unknown; (2) Death by COVID-19—communication of death and lack of goodbyes; and (3) (Re)construction of meaning—support networks and the grieving process. Our findings recommend that policymakers allocate additional resources to grief support services to better prepare for future pandemic events. Furthermore, it is necessary to invest in the implementation of relevant training programs for healthcare professionals, with a family centered approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Clinical Interventions on Grief)
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22 pages, 538 KiB  
Article
Healing Through Support: Beneficial and Detrimental Practices in Parental Grief—A Qualitative Study
by Lucía Pelacho-Ríos, Samuel Mayoral, María José Jorques-Infante and Gloria Bernabe-Valero
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040535 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1189
Abstract
This qualitative study explores the experiences of 24 parents who have experienced the death of a child, focusing on identifying practices that either facilitated or hindered their grieving process. In-depth interviews revealed key supportive practices, including emotional empathy, clear communication, and the presence [...] Read more.
This qualitative study explores the experiences of 24 parents who have experienced the death of a child, focusing on identifying practices that either facilitated or hindered their grieving process. In-depth interviews revealed key supportive practices, including emotional empathy, clear communication, and the presence of healthcare professionals during critical moments. Parents highlighted the significance of support groups, such as “Renacer”, in providing emotional connection, hope, and the opportunity for personal transformation. However, negative experiences emerged related to impersonal communication, lack of empathy, and delays in bureaucratic processes, which aggravated the pain and hindered emotional adjustment over time. The findings underscore the importance of personalized, empathetic care and the need for more efficient systems in supporting grieving parents. These insights can guide professionals in improving grief care, emphasizing respect for the emotional needs of parents and the creation of safe, supportive environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Clinical Interventions on Grief)
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