Coming to Terms with Grief

In a study published in the April 20, 2007 issue of the British Medical Journal, the results of a research project looking at the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioural counseling program in treating acute grief following suicide of a family member.  A sample of 122 close relatives of recent suicides were divided into an experimental group that received family-based cognitive behavioural treatment and a control group that received regular care.  Comparisons between the two groups showed no significant difference between the two groups with respect to level of depression, suicidal ideation, or complicated grief 13 months post-suicide.  There was a significant reduction in perceptions of personal blame and maladaptive grief reactions noted in the treatment group compared to the control group.      

Click here for the study abstract.  The full-length study is also available for subscribers.