A program for the primary prevention of pathological grief for supposedly healthy mourners

Abstract

Background: bereavement has become one of the problems with most demand from psychological assistance, with a greater emphasis on the work oriented to pathological grief. There are scientific-professional gaps regarding the development of programs for the prevention of pathological grief.Objective: to design a program for the primary prevention of pathological grief for supposedly healthy mourners, using group work devised by primary health care psychologists.Methods: the study used qualitative methodology, research-action method and, as a group device, the reflection group, made up of eleven psychologists of primary health care, with experience in psychological interventions. Other techniques were also used, such as the in-depth interviewing and the semi-structured interviewing, applied to external specialists.Results: the need for preventive intervention was confirmed. There appeared bereavement indicators and guiding premises for the prevention of pathological grief from a psychosocial view-point. A program was designed for supposedly healthy adult mourners. The program is flexible, admitting the modifications of those who will use it and taking into account the objectives. It has 5 sessions, with a consecutive weekly frequency. In the last session, the progress of the mourner is assessed based on his ability to control the environment and his daily life. In addition, the home of the mourner is visited for follow-up, after three months of the last session.Conclusions: based on the experience of group work, a program for the primary prevention of pathological grief was designed within the framework of primary health care.

Keywords

• grief
• psychology
• primary health care
• early medical intervention