Skip to main content
The British Journal of General Practice logoLink to The British Journal of General Practice
. 1995 Aug;45(397):427–430.

Bereavement: a protocol for primary care.

R Charlton 1, E Dolman 1
PMCID: PMC1239338  PMID: 7576849

Abstract

Bereavement is experiencing a loss, particularly of a loved one, which leads to a natural cycle of grief that has recognized psychological stages. Even though bereavement does not fit the criteria for the biomedical model of disease, it is a medical problem as there is a resultant morbidity and increased mortality associated with the surviving intimates. A bereavement protocol, which could minimize the effects of bereavement, is proposed for organized care by the primary health care team in this neglected area for health promotion.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ALDRICH C. K. The dying patient's grief. JAMA. 1963 May 4;184:329–331. doi: 10.1001/jama.1963.03700180055007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health: The pediatrician and childhood bereavement. Pediatrics. 1992 Mar;89(3):516–518. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Berlin A., Bhopal R. A., Spencer J., Van Zwanenberg T. Creating a death register for general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 1993 Feb;43(367):70–72. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Binger C. M., Ablin A. R., Feuerstein R. C., Kushner J. H., Zoger S., Mikkelsen C. Childhood leukemia. Emotional impact on patient and family. N Engl J Med. 1969 Feb 20;280(8):414–418. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196902202800804. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Birtchnell J. Case-register study of bereavement. Proc R Soc Med. 1971 Mar;64(3):279–282. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Black J. Broaden your mind about death and bereavement in certain ethnic groups in Britain. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987 Aug 29;295(6597):536–539. doi: 10.1136/bmj.295.6597.536. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Emery J. L. Attitudes of parents and paediatricians to a baby's death. J R Soc Med. 1990 Jul;83(7):423–424. doi: 10.1177/014107689008300703. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Evans A. J. Anticipatory grief: a theoretical challenge. Palliat Med. 1994;8(2):159–165. doi: 10.1177/026921639400800211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lockwood S., Blackwood M. Parental reactions to stillbirth. Aust Fam Physician. 1983 Apr;12(4):234–235. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McAvoy B. R. Death after bereavement. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Oct 4;293(6551):835–836. doi: 10.1136/bmj.293.6551.835. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Murtagh J. Picking up the pieces. The aftermaths of three deaths. Aust Fam Physician. 1983 Apr;12(4):280–280. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. PARKES C. M. RECENT BEREAVEMENT AS A CAUSE OF MENTAL ILLNESS. Br J Psychiatry. 1964 Mar;110:198–204. doi: 10.1192/bjp.110.465.198. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Parkes C. M. Bereavement counselling: does it work? Br Med J. 1980 Jul 5;281(6232):3–6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.281.6232.3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Preston J. The consequences of bereavement. Practitioner. 1989 Feb 8;233(1462):137–139. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Raphael B. The presentation and management of bereavement. Med J Aust. 1975 Dec 13;2(24):909–911. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1975.tb106432.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Rees W. D., Lutkins S. G. Mortality of bereavement. Br Med J. 1967 Oct 7;4(5570):13–16. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5570.13. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Richardson J., Burnard P. Talking with children: some basic counselling skills. Prof Care Mother Child. 1994 May;4(4):111–114. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Thorpe G. Enabling more dying people to remain at home. BMJ. 1993 Oct 9;307(6909):915–918. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6909.915. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wilkes E. Terminal cancer at home. Lancet. 1965 Apr 10;1(7389):799–801. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(65)92971-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of General Practice are provided here courtesy of Royal College of General Practitioners

RESOURCES