Articles tagged with Grief
A study by Cristine Legare and André Souza found that rituals help people feel a sense of control over their environment, while Michael Norton's research on grief also highlights the benefits of rituals. This new research on Halloween rituals provides insight into human behavior and the power of ritual in shaping our lives.
People are increasingly using virtual tombs, tattoos, and mourning apparel to honor the dead. According to Baylor researcher Candi Cann, these 'do-it-yourself' memorials offer personal alternatives to traditional rituals.
A recent analysis of hospital trust policies found significant shortcomings in post mortem exam procedures, with many failing to explain the law behind consent or outline clear processes for obtaining consent. The study highlights the need for adequate guidance to ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect after death.
A new study found that granting wishes to seriously ill children and their families has a positive effect on wellbeing. Parents reported feeling distracted, creating an important memory, and experiencing mixed emotions.
A new study published in Clinical Psychological Science found that adults suffering from complicated grief retain their ability to recall specific memories of their past when those events involve the deceased. They often generate impossible future scenarios with the deceased relative to their difficulty imagining a realistic future.
Researchers studied how couples cope with child loss and found that suppressing emotions can worsen grief. The study suggests that clinicians should guide clients away from 'staying strong' for partners to ease their suffering.
A study exploring the impact of early parental death found that individuals experiencing bereavement as children are more likely to experience low self-esteem, loneliness, and isolation in adult life. Researchers recommend providing essential practical support and maintaining social networks to mitigate these effects.
A Baylor University researcher has developed a model likening grief stages to a pinball machine, explaining why grieving is never complete and can be triggered by various events. The study uses the pinball analogy to help individuals in mourning understand their chaotic experience and prepare for future triggers.
Researchers developed a theory of caregiving through the end of life, comparing it to a theory on bereavement. They found significant conceptual similarities between the two theories, validating both models. The study aims to help nurses provide timely support to family caregivers after a loved one's death.
Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center will present on grief and major depression, exploring the complexities of complicated grief. The session also delves into the ethics of psychiatric relationships with pharmaceutical companies, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to patient care.
The Lancet Editorial expresses concerns about the new DSM-5 edition's lack of exclusion for bereavement. The current draft diagnoses feelings of deep sadness after loss as depression, rather than grief, with no evidence base for treating recently bereaved individuals with antidepressants.
A recent study published in Circulation found that the risk of heart attack increases significantly after losing a loved one. The research, led by BIDMC, revealed an elevated risk of heart attack in the first 24 hours (21 times normal) and remained high for at least a month.
Research finds that grief increases heart attack risk by 21 times within the first day, declining steadily over the first month. Grieving spouses are also at higher long-term risk of dying from heart disease and strokes.
Research suggests that small amounts of trauma can help individuals develop resilience, contrary to the common notion that traumatic experiences are always detrimental. People who have experienced some negative life events tend to have better outcomes than those with no adverse experiences or those with excessive adversity.
A University of Alberta researcher found that losing a spouse can trigger the need for surviving spouses to leave their homes and lose independence. The study suggests that policymakers should provide services and counseling for recently widowed seniors to help them make informed decisions about their living arrangements.
A study found that most cancer care physicians initiate contact with bereaved family members and caregivers after a patient's death. However, over two-thirds of physicians reported inadequate training in this area during their residency or fellowship. The most common forms of follow-up were sending condolence letters and making telepho...
Stillbirths occur at an alarming rate of 3 million annually worldwide. Families affected often struggle with grief and lack recognition, leading to feelings of isolation. The Lancet's commentary emphasizes the need for increased awareness and support for those experiencing stillbirth.
Recently bereaved individuals experience elevated heart rates and potentially harmful heart rhythm changes, increasing the risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death. These effects tend to normalize within six months.
A new study of student reactions to campus shootings found that online activities neither helped nor harmed long-term psychological health. Students reported feeling better after participating in online memorials and communications, but these effects did not translate into long-term change.
The CSIC's project analyzes the makeshift altars created after the Madrid bombings, revealing their performative nature as a form of political participation. The investigation highlights the importance of collective trauma, mourning, and social action in response to collective events.
A study by Oregon Health & Science University found that family members of loved ones who received physician-assisted suicide did not experience higher levels of depression and grief compared to those whose loved ones died without it. In fact, these families reported feeling more prepared for and accepting of their loved one's death.
A Tel Aviv University researcher suggests that tears signal vulnerability and attachment, making interpersonal relationships stronger. Crying is not just a symptom of pain or stress, but an evolution-based mechanism to bring people closer together.
A new study identifies criteria for detecting prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a condition characterized by enduring distress and dysfunction after a loss. The criteria, supported by experts, may help clinicians diagnose PGD and provide targeted treatments.
A UK hospital has seen a significant increase in tissue donations, including corneas, after combining its bereavement and donation services. The service, which provides round-the-clock support to staff, has helped identify more potential donors and referred them to the regional transplant donor coordinators.
A recent study found that one in five people fall below the poverty line following a partner's death, with women being more at risk. The research highlights the need for better awareness of financial issues and support systems to help bereaved individuals adjust to their new economic situation.
A telephone consenting system piloted by specialist nurses improved parents' willingness to consent to post-mortem research on their children. The study found that most parents viewed the process positively and appreciated the opportunity to discuss post-mortem options with a bereavement nurse.
Researchers found that tsunami survivors went through a complex process of trauma and grief, with nine chronological themes emerging from in-depth interviews. The study aimed to provide guidance for healthcare professionals to deal with traumatic events.
A study in Rwanda found that nearly half of orphaned youth aged 12-24 who head households meet criteria for depression. The combined effects of the genocide and HIV epidemic have left many orphans vulnerable to poverty, social marginalization, and poor health.
A study found that chronic grief activates neurons in reward centers of the brain, which may give memories addiction-like properties. This research may help psychologists treat those with complicated grief better.
A study of 28 spousally bereaved seniors found significant sleep disruption, with grief-related differences in alertness and reduced daytime regularity. The research highlights the importance of maintaining good sleep hygiene to mitigate the negative effects of disturbed sleep on mental health.
A new University of Georgia study finds that treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms before grief therapy is essential for helping children cope with loss. Camp-based interventions have been shown to be beneficial, providing a supportive environment where children can process their emotions and develop coping skills.
Research suggests that bereavement increases mortality risk from multiple causes, including suicide and illness. Studies have consistently shown a higher risk of death among bereaved individuals, particularly in the early weeks and months after loss.
A study of 233 individuals found that negative grief emotions such as yearning and anger peak at specific times after loss, declining by approximately six months. Acceptance is the most frequently endorsed item, increasing steadily over time.
A University of Pittsburgh-led study found that caregiving interventions for dementia can also prevent complicated grief and depression after the loved one's death. The study, which followed 1,222 caregivers, showed that reducing caregiver burden, treating depression, and providing supportive psychosocial interventions can help caregiv...
A recent study by UK researcher Cerel explores the connection between parental death and psychiatric problems in children. The results indicate that while bereavement has a negative impact, it is less severe than clinical depression.
A newly developed treatment for severe grief, known as Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT), has been shown to be more effective than standard therapy in reducing symptoms of complicated grief and improving response rates. CGT was compared to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) in a randomized controlled trial involving 83 women and 12 men.
A new treatment approach for complicated grief, developed by University of Pittsburgh researchers, has shown significant promise in improving symptoms and reducing emotional pain. The treatment, which combines elements of interpersonal psychotherapy with a unique two-pronged approach, was found to be more effective than a comparison th...
Researchers investigate the role of mutated a-actinin-4 in FSGS, a leading cause of progressive kidney failure. The study reveals two possible mechanisms: aggregation and rapid degradation, which can injure kidney cells, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.
Physicians can help family caregivers by promoting good communication, facilitating advance care planning, and providing emotional support. They can also attend to family grief and bereavement, improving outcomes for both patients and caregivers.
A national survey of ICU directors found that over 85% identified at least one large barrier to end-of-life care, including unrealistic expectations and insufficient training in communication. The survey also revealed that widely endorsed strategies such as training and symptom management are not always available in institutions.
A new study published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine found that religious individuals who cope with grief through religion experience better physical and mental health outcomes. After four months, these individuals reported similar health status to less religious counterparts, but had fewer doctor visits.
A study of 65 women who experienced stillbirth found that those who saw their dead baby were more likely to develop depression and anxiety. Women who did not see their stillborn child had lower rates of mental health issues, suggesting that forcing mothers to confront their loss may be counterproductive.
A study of recently bereaved older people found that those with weaker spiritual beliefs were more likely to experience depression symptoms. However, moderate believers showed that spiritual help can be beneficial in coping with loss, and strong believers demonstrated a strong sense of personal meaning.
Researchers analyzed data from 1973-1995 to find a significant rise in very low birthweight following Prime Minister Olof Palme's murder and ferry Estonia disaster. The study suggests that communal bereavement can affect public health, even if the event is rare or less visible.
Cannibalism is reevaluated as a complex practice with positive meanings among the Wari' people of the Amazon rainforest. The study reveals that funerary cannibalism was an act of affection, respect, and coping mechanism for grief, helping survivors to reconcile with their deceased loved ones.