Therapist-Assisted Web-Based Intervention for Prolonged Grief Disorder After Cancer Bereavement: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.27642
• Publication Date: 2022-02-08T15:00:41Z
• Authors: Julia Kaiser; Michaela Nagl; Rahel Hoffmann; Katja Linde; Anette Kersting
• Keywords: Complicated Grief; Depression

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Bereavement due to cancer increases the risk of prolonged grief disorder. However, specialized treatment options for after a loss illness are still scarce. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> The aim this study is extend previous findings by evaluating web-based cognitive behavioral intervention with asynchronous therapist support, consisting structured writing tasks adapted specifically bereavement. <title>METHODS</title> was evaluated in purely randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Open-access recruitment participants conducted on web. Prolonged (Inventory Complicated Grief), depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, growth, somatization, sleep quality, and mental physical health were assessed web via validated self-report measures. <title>RESULTS</title> A total 87 into group (IG; 44/87, 51%) or waitlist control (43/87, 49%). Of participants, 7% (6/87) dropped out (5/44, 11%, IG). 39 completers IG, 37 (95%) completed all tasks. reduced symptoms (intention-to-treat: &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&amp;lt;.001; &lt;i&gt;η&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=0.34; Cohen &lt;i&gt;d&lt;/i&gt;=0.80) clinically significant extent. It had favorable effects overall but not health. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> bereavement effective reducing disorder accompanying syndromes timely, easily realizable manner addresses specific challenges illness. Considering approaches future care policy practice can reduce gaps those who bereaved cancer. <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> German Clinical Trial Register U1111–1186-6255; https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&amp;amp;TRIAL_ID=DRKS00011001