Treatment of bereavement-related depression and traumatic grief

J Affect Disord. 2006 May;92(1):117-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2005.12.041. Epub 2006 Feb 3.

Abstract

In the bereaved, approximately 40% meet criteria for major depression within a month of the death. At a year, approximately 15% of the bereaved are depressed and at 2 years, the figure is approximately 7%. Open-label trials of medication for bereavement-related depression have shown promising results for desipramine, nortriptyline, and bupropion SR. One double-blind controlled trial supports the use of nortriptyline, but interpersonal psychotherapy did no better than placebo. In all these trials, depressive symptoms improve more than bereavement symptoms. Effective open-label treatments for traumatic grief include paroxetine, nortriptyline, and a form of psychotherapy called traumatic grief treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / therapeutic use
  • Bereavement*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / etiology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Nortriptyline / therapeutic use
  • Paroxetine / therapeutic use
  • Psychotherapy / methods*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / drug therapy
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Paroxetine
  • Nortriptyline