Case study analyses of cognitive behavioral interventions with bereaved anxious youth
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You, Courtney Lee.
Case study analyses of cognitive behavioral interventions with bereaved anxious youth. Retrieved from
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TitleCase study analyses of cognitive behavioral interventions with bereaved anxious youth
Date Created2014
Other Date2014-10 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (x, 64 p. : ill.)
DescriptionThe death of a loved one is a major life event that can be stressful and may increase risk for mental health problems in youth (Cerel, Fristad, Verducci, Weller, & Weller, 2006; Kaplow, Saunders, Angold, & Costello, 2010; Kranzler, Shaffer, Wasserman, & Davies, 1990). There is still much to learn regarding effective interventions for youth who are experiencing the adverse effects of loss. Two cases were intensively reviewed to explore how clients expressed, and how therapists accommodated around, bereavement themes in a course of an empirically-supported cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxious youth. In one case, where the youth met criteria for principal generalized anxiety disorder, bereavement-focused strategies were incorporated secondarily into a standard manual-based protocol for anxiety. For the second youth who was treated primarily for bereavement, general CBT principles and strategies were applied to target bereavement-related themes, but a specific manualized treatment was not used. Intensive review of each case revealed bereavement themes that may contribute to bereavement-related distress, including: (1) depressive dysfunctional thoughts about the self, life, and the world; (2) specific anxious dysfunctional thoughts about the grief reaction; (3) fear of abandonment; (4) depressive avoidant behaviors, such as withdrawal from relationships or activities; (5) avoidance of loss reminders; and (6) problems integrating the loss. These bereavement themes were found to be prominent in the earlier part of treatment and were targeted using cognitive behavioral interventions, including bereavement-related exposures, behavioral activation, and proactive problem solving. This study supports the use of a CBT approach to conceptualizing and treating bereavement issues in anxious youth. The principles and framework of CBT appear to appropriately target the dysfunctional thoughts, avoidance behaviors, and poor integration of the loss that work to complicate the grieving process.
NotePsy.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Courtney You
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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