Discussion : Bereavement and Client Diagnosis

· Although grief may be painful, for many individuals, it is a temporary journey of sadness. Yet, for others, grief may be a painful, unending road into despair.

With grief there is usually a period of bereavement, more commonly known as a mourning period or sadness experienced from death or separation.

Bereavement may result in temporary psychological distress or despair, or it may manifest into severe and/or reoccurring psychological disorders, such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other anxiety disorders.

Additionally, the effects of bereavement may complicate client diagnosis, especially for clients that you may already be treating for other disorders.

· For this Discussion, review the week's Learning Resources and current literature to examine how unremitting effects of bereavement may complicate client diagnosis.

Select an example from the current literature and Learning Resources where bereavement might present an issue for an existing client. Consider if a psychologist might have to change the original client diagnosis.