Physiological effects of chronic grief: a biofeedback treatment approach

This article makes explicit the implicit links among chronic grief, psychological stress, physiological functioning, and treatment via biofeedback and relaxation training. A brief review of recent literature shows the connections among these areas, and from these connections emerges a simple model describing the interactions of chronic grief and psychological stress with the physiology of the bereaved. This model focuses on bereaved persons with pre- or co-existing medical conditions likely to worsen with prolonged grief. A brief discussion of emotional aspects of chronic grief follows. Finally, a specific treatment modality--relaxation training with biofeedback assistance and desensitization--is applied to this model as well as to the emotional dimension, and the benefits thereof are discussed.