Prolonged grief is a type of abnormal grief, hard to define since there is no real answer to the question of how long it takes to get over a major bereavement - it is a gradual process. Although in typical grief the pangs noted in the acute stage become less frequent over a period of weeks, they tend to return with surprising force when some special reminder of the deceased is encountered. The first Christmas alone, birthdays and the anniversary of death, are often marked by a temporary resurgence of sorrow. Consultation rates at the general practitioner's surgery rise around the time of the anniversary, and the patient is most appreciative if the doctor can recall and share the memory that it all happened this time last year.
Prolonged grief not only goes on longer than expected, but is usually also more severe. Although years have elapsed since the death the patient presents with many of the features of recent bereavement. An important determinant of this is the nature of the relationship with the deceased.
Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.