The first year of grief and bereavement in close family members to individuals who have died of cancer

Using a systematic and standardized method this longitudinal study examines changes in grief reactions in a sample of close family members (n = 183) t o individuals who had died of cancer. The respondents were followed for 1 y ear after the loss. The study sample originated from a cluster randomized t rial evaluating comprehensive palliative care (intervention) against conven tional care (control). Hence, we also compared grief reactions among close family members to the patients in the intervention and control groups. Over all, the family members' grief reactions, as measured by the second part of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG), showed a significant decline over the period studied. However, we found no significant differences in gr ief reactions between the family members to the intervention and control pa tients at any point in time, and the pattern of change did not differ signi ficantly for the two groups.