Prevalence of problematic grief in adults in Psychological Services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prevalence of continuing and problematic grief in adults referred to three Psychological Services.
IRAS ID
229528
Contact name
Mary Reid
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
2017PZ06, NHS R and D local study reference
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study will measure the prevalence (i.e. the relative number out of the total group) of patients referred to Adult Clinical Health Psychology who show symptoms of continuing and problematic grief, from one or more bereavements (the loss of a person significant to them), in addition to the difficulties they may have managing or adapting to physical illness conditions (i.e. the primary reason for their referral to this Service). These bereavements need to have occurred at least twelve months prior to their being seen, as potentially intense symptoms of grief are not unusual for the first year or so following such a loss, and will not be part of this focus. Participants (i.e. all patients being seen who are capable of consent and responding) will be asked to complete one or more brief questionnaires during their initial assessment within the Service (depending on responses to first questionnaire).
This study is being performed as prior observations note that a large number of individuals being seen within this Service have shown grief-related symptoms, and significant bereavement histories, and grief symptoms tend to intensify pain and other physical symptoms. Finally, current assessment and treatment approaches do not necessarily focus on helping individuals manage grief experiences, so improvements to assessment procedures may be needed if in fact, this observation is borne out in further investigation. The number of patients demonstrating these symptoms in this Service will also be compared to two other, general Adult Psychological Services in the same location, to see if there are more patients suffering continuing, problematic grief being referred to Clinical Health in particular, to see if a potential need for further service provision is particular to Clinical Health.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
18/ES/0021
Date of REC Opinion
27 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion