Grief-Specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy vs Present-Centered Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychotherapy Research

Background:

• Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a newly recognized diagnosis in international classification systems.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) models are effective for PGD, but comparisons with active control treatments are limited.
• There is a need to evaluate the efficacy of specific CBT approaches for PGD against alternative therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of integrative cognitive behavioral therapy for prolonged grief (PG-CBT) against present-centered therapy (PCT).
• To determine if PG-CBT is superior to PCT in treating prolonged grief disorder.

Main Methods:

• A rater-blinded, multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted.
• Participants (n=212) aged 18-75 with PGD were randomized to either PG-CBT or PCT.
• Assessments included the PG-13 severity score, and self-reported depressive, somatic, and psychopathological symptoms at baseline, post-treatment, and 12-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Both PG-CBT and PCT significantly reduced PGD severity.
• PG-CBT demonstrated significantly greater reductions in PGD severity immediately after treatment compared to PCT.
• At 12-month follow-up, PG-CBT showed a trend towards greater PGD severity reduction and significantly fewer depressive and general psychopathological symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Integrative cognitive behavioral therapy for prolonged grief (PG-CBT) is superior to present-centered therapy (PCT) in reducing comorbid symptoms.
• Both PG-CBT and PCT are effective and acceptable treatments for prolonged grief disorder.
• Findings support the dissemination of PG-CBT and offer increased patient choice in treatment options.