GROUP INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE COPING WITH AIDS-RELATED BEREAVEMENT - MODEL DEVELOPMENT AND AN ILLUSTRATIVE CLINICAL EXAMPLE

Despite the widespread losses from AIDS, there have been no published evaluations of mental health interventions for people experiencing AID S-related bereavement. We describe a cognitive behavioural coping mode l for support group interventions with people who experience an AIDS-r elated loss. The support group model consists of six primary component s to address grief-related responses and the unique features of AIDS b ereavement: social support and group cohesion; identification and expr ession of emotion; identification of AIDS loss specific coping challen ges; recognition of current coping; goal setting; and, implementation of adaptive coping to reduce psychological distress. The model integra tes theories of cognitive behavioural coping within a social support g roup context. Results of a pilot study with four men and four women sh owed that the intervention model cast into eight group sessions signif icantly reduced depression, intrusive experiences, grief reactions, de moralization, and overall psychological distress immediately following the intervention and at a S-month follow-up assessment. The intervent ion appeared to facilitate the adjustment of these bereaved persons an d warrants further study.