Cognitive behaviour therapy for complicated grief
Abstract
ABSTRACTComplicated grief is a debilitating condition that can develop after the death of a loved one. Here a cognitive behavioural viewpoint is used to explore why some people develop this condition whereas others recover from their loss relatively quickly. Three processes are identified as crucial in the development and maintenance of complicated grief: insufficient integration of the loss with existing autobiographical knowledge, unhelpful thinking patterns, and anxious and depressive avoidance behaviours. CBT uses interventions such as exposure, cognitive restructuring and behavioural activation to target these processes and help people to move toward recovery.
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