[Psychological and psychotherapeutic aspects of grief]

Abstract

Psychological theories on the significance and the process of mourning are discussed, and an approach to the psychotherapy of pathological grief is described. Bereavement behaviour refers to the total response pattern, psychological and physiological, displayed by an individual following the loss of a significant object, usually a loved person. Various theories on the nature and course of bereavement are reviewed. The following psychological aspects associated with bereavement are discussed in more detail: Shock, denial, searching, depression, guilt, aggression, anxiety, jealousy and reintegration. Specific conditions that might lead to pathological mourning are pointed out. At last, an implosive therapy approach to pathological mourning is described, which is based on the prolonged exposure to the painful stimuli until extinction of the severe emotional response occurs ("flooding"). The procedure is illustrated by examples from actual therapies.