Prolonged Grief Disorder

A 55-year-old widow presents to her internist 18 months after her husband’s sudden cardiac death. Her grief has not abated at all during this time. She is unable to stop thinking about him and is in disbelief that he is gone. The sense of isolation and longing for him has not lifted, even during the celebration of her daughter’s recent college graduation. She no longer socializes with other couples because it is a too-painful reminder of her husband’s absence. She cries herself to sleep every night, ruminating about how she should have seen his death coming and thinking it would be better if she died too. She has a history of diabetes and two episodes of major depression. Further evaluation is notable for a mildly elevated blood glucose level and weight gain of 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds). How should this patient’s grief be evaluated and treated? Copyright © 2024 Massachusetts Medical Society.