title: How to help patients understand and conquer grief. Avoiding depression in the midst of sadness.
abstract: Grief is a painful yet normal process that many patients do not fully understand or appreciate. Any person may be at risk for depression as a result of grief-inducing events. Early, organized intervention by primary care physicians can help patients return to full emotional health and maintain self-esteem. When the behavioral markers that measure the intensity of grief are named and used as a scale by which to measure progress, grief reactions can be jointly managed by patient and physician in brief counseling sessions over a reasonable period of time. I believe this is an efficient, effective, and valuable service to patients.
authors.affiliation: Lynchburg Family Practice Residency Program, VA 24501.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Crow
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006040:Goals; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept