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Grief-related facsimile illness.

S Zisook, R A de Vaul

    International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
    |January 1, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Pathologic identification, where bereaved individuals adopt symptoms of the deceased, is a serious syndrome. Early recognition and proper management are crucial for a good prognosis in grief-related facsimile illness.

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    Area of Science:

    • Psychiatry
    • Psychology
    • Grief Studies

    Background:

    • The tendency for bereaved individuals to adopt symptoms of the deceased is noted in grief literature but lacks clinical attention.
    • Pathologic identification is a significant clinical syndrome often misdiagnosed and inadequately treated.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To present evidence for pathologic identification as a distinct clinical syndrome.
    • To highlight its diagnostic criteria, associated risks, and treatment outcomes.
    • To emphasize the importance of recognizing grief-related facsimile illness for effective management.

    Main Methods:

    • Clinical case series analysis (10 cases, 4 presented).
    • Literature review on mourning and pathologic identification.
    • Historical diagnosis and treatment outcome assessment.

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    Main Results:

    • Pathologic identification represents an arrest in the normal grief process.
    • Patients exhibit symptoms identical or similar to the deceased.
    • Common features include ineffective prior treatments and referral for unrelated issues.
    • Treatment focused on facilitating the grief response leads to improvement.

    Conclusions:

    • Pathologic identification (grief-related facsimile illness) is a distinct syndrome requiring clinical recognition.
    • It affects a high-risk population and can be diagnosed via history.
    • Proper management, focused on grief facilitation, yields a good prognosis, contrary to some literature suggesting hypochondriasis presentation.