How to help patients understand and conquer grief. Avoiding depression in the midst of sadness

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.