Grief: Its significance for rehabilitation in schizophrenia

Abstract

Abstract In this paper the clinical relevance of grief in the rehabilitation of schizophrenia is highlighted. It is suggested that operationalization of impairments in schizophrenia reveals significant losses and consequent reactions, which become manifest as a clinical picture which shows a striking resemblance to grief reactions. After outlining the concept of grief, losses in schizophrenia and the partial overlap of symptoms of grief and schizophrenia are described. The concept of grief has important therapeutic consequences. Like in grief therapy, acceptance and activation are identified as the central components of the process of rehabilitation.