Grief & Abnormal Bereavement

Key points

• Normal grief: stages of denial → anger → bargaining → depression → acceptance (Kübler-Ross); up to 6 months.
• Grief can include brief hallucinatory experiences of the deceased — not necessarily pathological.
• Abnormal/complicated grief: intense symptoms > 6 months, or delayed/inhibited grief.
• Distinguish from depression: pervasive anhedonia, guilt, suicidality suggest depression.

Decision points in this pathway

• Intense symptoms beyond 6 months or pervasive anhedonia/guilt/suicidality?

The full step-by-step algorithm, including what to do at each branch, opens in the app for approved members.