Group Therapy for Prolonged Grief in Older Adults Proves Noninferior to Individual CBT

Introduction: Addressing the Silent Burden of Prolonged Grief

Bereavement is a universal human experience, yet for a significant subset of individuals, the natural mourning process becomes arrested, leading to Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). Characterized by intense longing for the deceased, emotional numbness, and difficulty moving forward with life, PGD is now formally recognized in the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to this condition due to the higher frequency of loss and potential social isolation. While individual Grief-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (GF-CBT) is the gold standard, the increasing demand for mental health services necessitates exploring more scalable, cost-effective delivery models, such as group therapy.

Study Highlights