Meaning-based Group Counselling for Bereavement

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Given that individuals in bereavement tend to experience substantial psychological distress in the first two years following loss, individuals seeking psychological support will need appropriate services grounded in sound empirical scholarship. There is a lack of studies assessing bereavement groups, despite groups being one of the most common forms by which such services are offered. The prominent and emerging process of meaning-reconstruction in bereavement research is theorized to lead to better psychological adjustment and prevent more prolonged grief reactions. The principal objective of this study is to compare two types of group counseling for individuals in bereavement: A novel meaning-based bereavement counseling group and a conventional bereavement support group.

Official Title
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The Development and Pilot Testing of Meaning-based Group Counselling Intervention for Bereavement

Conditions
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Grief, Bereavement

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Meaning-Based Bereavement Group
* Behavioral: Conventional Bereavement Group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Individuals presenting for bereavement services that have experienced a death-related loss within 6 weeks to 2 years of the first meeting of the group, and are experiencing an uncomplicated grief response will be invited to participate. Individuals will be assessed for their ability to participate in a group counselling context as well as an uncomplicated grief trajectory. Participants must be 18 years of age or older, have sufficient ability to communicate in English, as well as read English. Exclusion Criteria: Following a clinical/diagnostic interview and administration of the PG-13 (Prolonged Grief Disorder-13, Prigerson et al., 2009), individuals experiencing a complicated/prolonged grief trajectory are excluded. Furthermore, individuals whose cognitive condition might make the study burdensome or impossible for them are excluded.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Meaning-Based Bereavement Group<br> | Behavioral: Meaning-Based Bereavement Group<br>* A 12 week bereavement counselling group with tasks and themes that focus on re-constructing meaning following death.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Conventional Bereavement Group<br> | Behavioral: Conventional Bereavement Group<br>* An 8 week traditional bereavement group that follows a more conventional approach to grief support.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grief | Descriptive statistical analysis (e.g., means, standard deviations, percentage of scale range improvements) will be conducted on the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up scores for both the experimental and control group on the following outcome measures (1) Grief: Revised Grief Experience Inventory; Core Bereavement; Hogan Grief Reaction Checklist | 24 weeks | 
| Meaning | Descriptive statistical analysis (e.g., means, standard deviations, percentage of scale range improvements) will be conducted on the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up scores for both the experimental and control group on the following outcome measures (1) Meaning: Purpose in Life Test; The Grief and Meaning-Reconstruction Inventory; The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale | 24 weeks | 
| Depression | Descriptive statistical analysis (e.g., means, standard deviations, percentage of scale range improvements) will be conducted on the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up scores for both the experimental and control group on the following outcome measures (1) Depression: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale | 24 Weeks | 
| Anxiety | Descriptive statistical analysis (e.g., means, standard deviations, percentage of scale range improvements) will be conducted on the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up scores for both the experimental and control group on the following outcome measures (1)Anxiety: State-Trait Anxiety Scale | 24 Weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Bereavement, Grief, Mourning, Loss, Death, Meaning, Group, Counseling, Psychotherapy, Uncomplicated, Support