Introduction: Outline of goals and scope of the book

Abstract

A basic motive in compiling this volume has been to try to gain understanding of complicated grief, at a time in history when this seems particularly pertinent. In general terms, complicated grief (CG) can be understood as something like a “derailing” of the normal, usually painful process of adapting to the loss of a significant person. However, it will become evident to readers of the current volume that different definitions and criteria have been adopted to try to describe the concept more precisely, for both scientific and clinical purposes. To provide some basis for comparison: our earlier definition of CG has been along the lines of a clinically-significant deviation from the (cultural) norm (i.e., that could be expected to pertain, according to the extremity of the particular bereavement event) in either (a) the time course or intensity of specific or general symptoms of grief and/or (b) the level of impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. (Stroebe, Hansson, Schut, & Stroebe, 2008, p. 7) However, such an apparently detailed characterization has shortcomings (e.g., it does not explicitly specify different types of complications that have been suggested, such as absent, delayed, or chronic grief). Further difficulties in operationalizing and applying such a definition will become apparent through the pages of this book.