Illness-related Loss Research Articles

The Grief Networks of Traumatic and Nontraumatic Deaths: Comparing Earthquake- and Illness-Related Losses.

Traumatic death is a risk factor for prolonged grief. Network analysis offers a perspective for understanding traumatic bereavement at a symptom interaction level. This study estimates regularized partial correlation grief networks for bereavement due to earthquake (n = 818) and illness (n = 237), using symptoms from the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) as the nodes. Difficulty in accepting death and loneliness were highly central nodes in both networks. Trust difficulties and longing for the deceased exhibited high centrality in the earthquake-bereaved sample but not in the illness-bereaved sample. The earthquake bereavement network was characterized by high connectivity and a diversity of central symptoms. These results provide insights into understanding the severity of grief after a traumatic loss. Although promoting the integration of the reality of loss and alleviating loneliness is important, it might also be worth considering the role of post-loss interpersonal trust and the distress associated with longing for the deceased for traumatic bereavement.

Grieving “The Death of Possibility”: Memorable Messages of (Dis)Enfranchised Loss in Invisible, Physical Illness

ABSTRACT Guided by theories of communicative disenfranchisement (TCD) and memorable messages (ToMM), this study analyzes 60 open-ended survey responses detailing experiences of grief following the onset of invisible, physical illness (e.g. chronic overlapping pain conditions, autoimmune rheumatic diseases). Employing reflexive thematic analysis, we identify (1) illness-related losses that are disenfranchised by discourses surrounding grief and (2) opportunities to enfranchise these losses via memorable messages. Situated at two points in time, before and after the onset of illness, we identify disenfranchised losses as what once was (e.g. physical [in]dependence, relational connection, images of self, and trust in institutions) and what will never be (e.g. family planning and career dreams). Next, we identify opportunities to disrupt this disenfranchisement through memorable messages of presence (e.g. nonverbal acknowledgment and verbal expressions of belief) and finding the fit (e.g. physical restructuring and community connection). In doing so, we extend theoretical understanding of both memorable messages, in the form that they can take (of experience) and as points of (dis)enfranchisement, and communicative (dis)enfranchisement. This study contributes to a growing body of health communication research on disenfranchising experiences in chronic illness by highlighting a resulting experience of illness not often talked about – illness-related loss and its grief process. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as limitations and future directions, are discussed.

Assessment of the treatment needs of community recovery Services in Spain: From the perspective of service users, families, and mental health professionals.

Profile of Community Recovery Services users has changed over the years and has become more diverse. To explore the evolution of treatment needs, this study aimed to identify users' needs, from the point of view of different agents implicated in the recovery process. We explored the consistency between the agents using the focus group technique. We defined four groups (n=58): service users, family members, professionals, and referring professionals. We pre-identified topics related to recovery, such as illness-related losses, imaginary of CRS, expectations, activities, and life goals. All agents recognised losses related to the mental illness, the need for carrying activities out of the Community Recovery Services, and for including families in the recovery process. The groups differed in some areas, such as the identification of activities that should be encouraged, or the importance of promoting vital expectations. Our findings suggest that it is important to identify the needs of different agents involved in the recovery process. There is consistency in the service users' needs, but there are some differences that need to be considered. Interventions should be personalised, covering functional, cognitive, and relational losses related to the mental illness.

Grief and Mourning in Schizophrenia

Depression and suicidality after first episode of psychosis are well-documented responses in patients with schizophrenia (Addington, Williams, Young, & Addington, 2004). The understanding of depression and suicidality has been increasingly refined through careful study. Researchers have identified a number of factors that may cause depression such as insight into the illness, feelings of loss and inferiority about the illness as a damaging life event, hopelessness about having a viable future with the illness and mourning for losses engendered by the illness. The authors argue that grief and mourning are not just an occasional reaction to the diagnosis of schizophrenia, but are a necessary part of coming to terms with having the illness. They offer three case examples, each of which illuminates a distinct way in which psychosis and mourning may be related—psychosis as a loss of former identity, psychosis as offering meaning and transformation, and psychosis as a way of coping with the inability to mourn. In their view, recovery depends on mourning illness–related losses, developing personal meaning for the illness, and moving forward with “usable insight” and new identity (Lewis, 2004) that reflects a new understanding of one's strengths and limitations with the illness.

Coping skills intervention for a case of chronic fatigue syndrome

This case review involves differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), clinical depression, anxiety disorders, somatization disorder, and conversion disorder. The case conceptualization is accompanied by a protocol for clinical and psychometric assessment of stress and physical and social function. The treatment plan includes rapport building, grieving illness-related losses, relaxation techniques, cognitive and behavioral coping skills, pleasant mood induction, activity management, social support, and memory assistance. Adjunctive medical and alternative treatments are also summarized. Finally, expected outcomes are discussed.