La terapia del lutto complicato: basi teoriche, struttura ed evidenze empiriche a supporto dell’efficacia dell’intervento

The loss of a loved one represents a painful experience and one of the most complex psychosocial challenges to face in life. Most individuals have adequate personal resources and social support to physiologically process grief and slowly readjust to a life without their loved one. However, in a significant percentage of individuals, the grieving process remains blocked and the intense and disruptive manifestations associated with the initial reaction to a loss tend to be prolonged and amplified, leading to the development of prolonged grief disorder. In such cases, clinicians need to be able to recognize and adequately treat the specific symptoms of the clinical condition. The article aims to describe the theoretical framework and structure of “complicated grief therapy”, specifically examining the empirical evidence that demonstrated its effectiveness in treating prolonged grief disorder. The therapy consists of a structured psychological intervention organized in 16 sessions and guided by the theoretical models of grief developed by attachment theory and the dual process model. The techniques and therapeutic strategies used in the therapy derive from cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and motivational interviewing. The main aim of the intervention is to address both the complications of accepting the loss and to foster an adequate reorganization of life in the absence of the deceased. To date, “complicated grief therapy” is one of the psychological interventions of choice in treating the symptoms of prolonged grief, due to the numerous studies that have empirically demonstrated its effectiveness.