Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT), now called Prolonged Grief Therapy (PGT), is a structured 16-session treatment designed specifically for prolonged/complicated grief. It integrates principles from CBT, exposure, interpersonal therapy, and acceptance work to address pathological longing and adaptation difficulty.
Concept origin
Shear and colleagues (2005) developed the protocol and published the first randomized clinical trial in JAMA, showing its superiority over interpersonal therapy for complicated grief. Subsequent reviews confirmed its efficacy across different populations.
Therapeutic approach
The PGT protocol includes: psychoeducation about prolonged grief, review of the relationship and loss history, imaginal exposure to the story of the death, work on future aspirations, and restoration exercises. Alternating therapist and individual sessions reinforce the process.
Related concepts
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