Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
- Cited by SciELO
- Access statistics
Related links
- Similars in SciELO
Share
Salud mental
Print version ISSN 0185-3325
Abstract
MARTINEZ-MEDINA, Consuelo Bernarda and RODRIGUEZ-OROZCO, Alain R.. Prolonged grief disorder treatment: An approach to COVID-19 grief. Salud Ment [online]. 2023, vol.46, n.3, pp.165-175. Epub Oct 16, 2023. ISSN 0185-3325. https://doi.org/10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2023.021.
Background
It has been estimated that COVID-19 grief will affect approximately sixteen million people worldwide, while the prevalence of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) could rise to 40%.
Objective
To review treatments that can be administered to patients with PGD due to COVID-19.
Method
PUBMED and Google Scholar were searched with the following keywords: prolonged grief disorder, complicated grief, grief and psychotherapy, and treatment of prolonged grief, complicated grief or persistent complex grief.
Results
Fifty articles were reviewed on the efficacy of interpersonal therapy, rational emotional-behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, humanistic therapy, systemic family therapy, group therapy, writing therapy, Internet-based intervention, and a modality of cognitive behavioral therapy used with prolonged grief, metacognitive therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Discussion and conclusion
There is no consensus on the psychotherapeutic treatment of choice for people with PGD due to the loss of a family member to COVID-19. Group therapy is effective in reducing the intensity of uncomplicated grief, cognitive-behavioral therapy is highly efficacious in reducing the severity of grief, metacognitive therapy specifically designed for PGD has a positive impact on depression, anxiety, stress, rumination, and quality of life while Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is helpful for restoring spirituality. Psychotherapy is most effective when combined with drug therapy. It is suggested that comparative studies be undertaken of psychotherapeutic techniques for managing patients with PGD associated with COVID-19 and the adaptation of these techniques to virtual settings.
Keywords : COVID-19; prolonged grief; treatment; cognitive behavioral therapy; psychotherapy.