title: Treatment of bereavement-related depression and traumatic grief.
abstract: In the bereaved, approximately 40% meet criteria for major depression within a month of the death. At a year, approximately 15% of the bereaved are depressed and at 2 years, the figure is approximately 7%. Open-label trials of medication for bereavement-related depression have shown promising results for desipramine, nortriptyline, and bupropion SR. One double-blind controlled trial supports the use of nortriptyline, but interpersonal psychotherapy did no better than placebo. In all these trials, depressive symptoms improve more than bereavement symptoms. Effective open-label treatments for traumatic grief include paroxetine, nortriptyline, and a form of psychotherapy called traumatic grief treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 2400 Tucker NE, 4th Floor, Albuquerque, 87131, USA. phensley@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Paula L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hensley
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001601:Bereavement; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009661:Nortriptyline; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors