Search Results (4)

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) affects approximately 10% of bereaved individuals and is now formally recognized in both the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11. Despite its prevalence, PGD often responds poorly to traditional therapeutic approaches. This manuscript outlines the protocol for an early-stage open-label feasibility trial investigating the use of psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, in treating PGD in adults, with a focus on young adults. The study will involve 20 participants diagnosed with PGD. Each participant will undergo a structured therapeutic process that includes a preparatory session, a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, and post-session integration. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored via symptom assessments, including qualitative and quantitative data, with the main aims related to safety, feasibility and acceptability. Functional MRIs will be obtained pre- and post-dosing and collected during a standardized grief-elicitation methodology. Key outcome measures include changes in the severity of PGD and trauma symptoms, cognitive flexibility, openness to experience, meaning in life and subjective experiences during the psilocybin session. Neural activity will also be evaluated through fMRI to better understand the neurobiological effects of the treatment. This research represents one of the first clinical protocols specifically focused on the potential of psilocybin for treating PGD. The goal is to assess feasibility and safety while laying the groundwork for future randomized controlled trials. Full article

Background/Objectives: Grief in cancer patients represents a multidimensional psychological response encompassing anticipatory, existential, and identity-related distress. While the recent literature has examined grief in caregivers, family members, and even healthcare professionals, the psychological grief experienced by patients themselves following a cancer diagnosis remains comparatively understudied and insufficiently characterized in empirical research. This systematic review aims to evaluate observational studies that used validated psychometric instruments to measure grief in adult cancer patients and to synthesize findings on the significance of grief in this population. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO was conducted to identify observational studies that employed validated tools to assess grief among adult cancer patients. The inclusion criteria required the use of psychometrically validated grief instruments and the collection of quantitative data. Fifteen studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. Results: Grief symptoms were consistently present at moderate to high levels across diverse cancer types, care settings, and geographic regions. Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancer (PGAC) scores often exceeded thresholds associated with clinical concern, with correlations observed between grief and psychological variables such as anxiety (r = 0.63), depression (r = 0.637), hopelessness (r = 0.63), and dignity (r = 0.654). Demographic factors (e.g., younger age, female gender) and illness perceptions (e.g., identity centrality, stigma) further intensified grief. Grief was a predominant psychological concern even when general distress measures failed to capture its presence. Conclusions: Future research is essential to identify an effective public health strategy for addressing grief through structured screening conducted in primary care and outpatient medical settings, coupled with accessible referral pathways to community-based support groups and coordinated follow-up services to facilitate grief management. Full article

Prolonged grief disorder, also known as post-loss grief, was officially recognized in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) after years of debate within the mental health community. However, while post-loss grief gained recognition, anticipatory and preparatory grief, which occur before a loss, have remained underexplored. Preparatory grief affects individuals nearing the end of life, while anticipatory grief impacts the loved ones of those who are about to die. These grief types are particularly prevalent among women, who are more vulnerable to their emotional and psychological challenges. The primary aim of this study was to investigate preparatory grief in women diagnosed with cancer and anticipatory grief in their loved ones, with the goal of developing management guidelines. The secondary objective was to identify protective factors, such as psychotherapeutic interventions and systemic support, to alleviate grief-related distress. This review synthesized evidence from the PubMed and Cochrane databases, covering studies from 1968 to 2020 and after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. The results revealed that anticipatory grief was common among loved ones, leading to increased emotional distress, while cancer patients experienced preparatory grief, facing both emotional and practical challenges. Both types of grief were associated with altered stress responses, such as lower diurnal cortisol levels. Psychotherapeutic interventions, particularly early and systemic psychotherapy, were found to effectively reduce symptoms of both anticipatory and preparatory grief, improving coping strategies and emotional well-being. The study concluded that empowering coping strategies and social support played key roles in enhancing emotional outcomes for both patients and their families. Full article

Background: The suicide of a pupil impacts survivors greatly, but most studies on the subject do not consider school staff, and do not differentiate between the various professional domains. Our aim was to investigate the existence of differences in symptoms of complicated grief as well as post-trauma symptoms after a pupil’s suicide, among school staff in four domains: counsellors, psychologists, principals and home-room teachers. Method: Eighty-four staff members from schools that lost pupils to suicide within the past five years were assessed for symptoms of complicated grief and trauma. All reported their symptoms using self-report scales. Results: Principals and home-room teachers had significantly higher complicated grief and post-trauma symptoms. The main limitations of this study are that the data were collected via self-report questionnaires, which can introduce bias. Additionally, the sample is relatively small and comprises mainly women. Conclusions: School professionals in domains receiving less coping and crisis training, and those with supervisory responsibilities (principals and home-room teachers) show more symptoms of trauma and complicated grief after a pupil’s suicide, and require special attention. More preparatory training would surely benefit them and assist them in coping with such crises. Full article