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A co-designed systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of grief interventions for anxiety and depression in young people
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A co-designed systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of grief interventions for anxiety and depression in young people

Lauren J. Breen, Danyelle Greene, Clare S. Rees, Amy Black, Morgan Cawthorne and Sarah J. Egan
Journal of affective disorders, Vol.335, pp.289-297
2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.032
PMID: 37196936
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Published1.69 MBDownloadView
Open Access CC BY V4.0

Abstract

Adolescents Anxiety Depression Grief Review Youth
Background Grief in young people is common and associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression, yet grief interventions for this age group are under-researched. Method We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of grief interventions in young people. The process was co-designed with young people and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PsycINFO, Medline, and Web of Science databases were searched in July 2021 (updated December 2022). Results We extracted results from 28 studies of grief interventions with young people (14–24 years) that measured anxiety and/or depression (N = 2803 participants, 60 % girls/women). Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for grief demonstrated a large effect for anxiety and medium effect for depression. A meta-regression indicated that CBT for grief that included a higher degree of CBT strategies, was not trauma focused, had >10 sessions, offered on an individual basis, and did not involve parents, was associated with larger effect sizes for anxiety. Supportive therapy had a moderate effect for anxiety and a small-moderate effect for depression. Writing interventions were not effective for anxiety or depression. Limitations Studies are limited in number and there were few randomized controlled studies. Conclusions Findings indicate that CBT for grief is an effective intervention for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in young people experiencing grief. CBT for grief should be offered as the first line treatment for grieving young people experiencing anxiety and depression. Protocol registration PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021264856).

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Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.112 Palliative Care
1.112.1559 Grief and Bereavement
Web Of Science research areas
Clinical Neurology
Psychiatry
ESI research areas
Psychiatry/Psychology
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