Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Review of Ultrasound Parameters for Predicting Difficult Airways
Published on: April 7, 2023
Care of Bereaved Persons : A Systematic Review
Sangeeta Ahluwalia1, Julia Bandini2, Margaret Maglione3
1RAND Health, Santa Monica, California (S.A., K.O.).
Background:
Bereavement after the death of someone close is universal, and clinicians may be uncertain if or what interventions may be beneficial.
Purpose:
To synthesize effects of health care interventions for bereaved children and adults.
Data Sources:
Eight databases were searched from inception in September 2025, supplemented with screening reviews, guidelines, federal register entries, and expert input.
Study Selection:
Dual independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing interventions for bereaved or soon-to-be bereaved persons with usual care, no intervention, or an alternative intervention.
Data Extraction:
Outcomes were evaluated using the abstractor-checker model. Risk of bias was assessed; random-effects meta-analysis was used for effect estimates; multiple effect modifiers were explored; and applicability, generalizability, and strength of evidence (SoE) were determined.
Data Synthesis:
A total of 169 RCTs reported in 303 publications evaluated psychotherapy; expert-facilitated support groups; pharmacotherapy; peer support; self-help interventions; writing, music, and art therapy; enhanced provider contact; and integrative medicine for bereaved persons. Risk of bias was substantial, and only 15 RCTs included children. There was moderate SoE that individual psychotherapy improves grief disorder, grief, and depression symptoms and low SoE that expert-facilitated support groups and enhanced contact with health care providers may improve depression symptoms. Other interventions showed conflicting results, indicated no benefit, or had insufficient SoE.
Limitations:
Research focused on grief in adults, study populations were complex, and the review may have missed culturally specific interventions.
Conclusion:
Psychotherapy can improve key outcomes in bereaved adults, and expert-facilitated support groups and enhanced provider contact may also provide benefits. Evidence for other bereavement interventions, approaches for children, and outcomes beyond general grief or grieving, grief disorder, and depression symptoms is limited.
Primary Funding Source:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (PROSPERO: CRD42023466057).
Insights
Psychotherapy effectively treats grief disorder, grief, and depression in bereaved adults. Evidence for other interventions, especially for children, remains limited, highlighting a need for more research.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health
- Clinical Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Bereavement is a universal experience, often leaving clinicians uncertain about effective interventions.
- Understanding the impact of health care interventions for bereaved individuals is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize the effects of various health care interventions for bereaved children and adults.
- To evaluate the evidence base for different bereavement support strategies.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive search of eight databases was conducted, supplemented by reviews, guidelines, and expert input.
- Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing interventions with usual care were selected by dual independent reviewers.
- Risk of bias was assessed, and random-effects meta-analysis was employed for effect estimation.
Main Results:
- 169 RCTs evaluated interventions including psychotherapy, support groups, pharmacotherapy, and art therapy.
- Moderate strength of evidence (SoE) supports psychotherapy for improving grief disorder, grief, and depression symptoms in adults.
- Low SoE suggests expert-facilitated support groups and enhanced provider contact may benefit depression symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Psychotherapy offers significant benefits for bereaved adults, improving key outcomes.
- Expert-facilitated support groups and enhanced provider contact show potential for improving depression symptoms.
- Evidence for other interventions, particularly for children and diverse outcomes, is limited.
More Related Videos
05:22Author Spotlight: Demonstrating Systematic Endobronchial Ultrasound to New Endoscopists
Published on: August 11, 2023
14:13Detecting Estrogenic Ligands in Personal Care Products using a Yeast Estrogen Screen Optimized for the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory
Published on: January 1, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:10Review and Preview
Percentiles are a type of fractile that partition data into...
01:13Review and Preview
01:20Random and Systematic Errors
01:17Systematic Sampling Method
Systematic sampling is one of the simplest methods...
01:10Propagation of Uncertainty from Systematic Error
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...