Psychotherapeutic and pharmacological intervention for bereaved persons

Comments that there is no justification for routine intervention for bereaved persons in terms of therapeutic modalities, either psychotherapeutic or pharmacological, because grief is not a disease. The authors explore ways that attachment and psychodynamic theories can inform practice. They review the range of available interventions and their application. They address key questions, such as whether complicated forms of grieving need the support of drugs, or whether professional therapy is sufficient. The authors also argue the need for psychopharmacological interventions to be administered in a condition-specific manner and for the grief process to be looked after whatever the diagnosis.