星空无限传媒

Sponsor: The National Institute of Mental Health
Principal Investigator: Joseph S. Goveas, MD

This novel study is expected to provide evidence that specific abnormalities in the emotion regulation brain circuitry that are associated with complicated grief symptom trajectories in individuals with acute grief. These brain circuit abnormalities could, in the future, serve as neurobiological indicators (or markers) of prolonged grief disorder (or complicated grief). Such biological markers could also be used to test the efficacies of treatment or prevention strategies that aim to prevent the development of prolonged grief disorder in acutely grieving individuals.

Learn more about this research study (PDF)

Eligibility

• Individuals within 12 months following the death of a loved one
• Also, healthy nonbereaved adults
• You must be age 50 and older
• You must be able to undergo an MRI

What will happen if I take part in the study?

• You will be in this research project for about 18 months.
• You will complete multiple visits during the course of your study participation.
• You will receive clinical evaluations, physical/neurological examinations, cognitive (memory) testing, MRI brain scans, optional blood draws, and will complete questionnaires.

Benefits of participating

• You will be contributing to our knowledge of how changes in the brain in grieving individuals may lead to the development of prolonged grief disorder.
• The brain imaging measurements (biomarkers) may in the future help us identify treatment strategies that prevent the development of prolonged grief disorder in grieving individuals.

Interested in becoming a Participant?

Contact Stacy Claesges, Research Coordinator, to become a participant or with questions.
sclaesge@mcw.edu | (414) 955-8970

Sponsor: Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW)

Principal Investigator: Joseph S. Goveas, MD

The purpose of this project is to understand features in the brain and measurements in the blood that are associated with prolonged grief disorder with the use of Iyengar Yoga versus health education group. The study will also explore if this style of Iyengar Yoga and/or health education group sessions improves grief symptoms by modifying brain and blood measurements in individuals with prolonged grief disorder (PGD).

Eligibility

• Individuals 12 months after the death of a loved one.
• Also, healthy nonbereaved adults.
• You must be age 50 and older.
• You must be able to undergo an MRI.
• You must not have had a serious back, joint or neck injury within the past 3 months.
• You must not be currently practicing yoga.

What will happen if I take part in the study?

• You will be in the study for about 18 weeks.
• You will complete multiple visits during the course of your study participation.
• You will receive clinical evaluations, physical/neurological examinations, cognitive (memory) testing, MRI brain scans, optional blood draws and will complete questionnaires.
• If it is determined at the initial visit that you have prolonged grief disorder or a grief-related mental health complication, such as bereavement related depression, etc., you will be “randomized” to either one of two groups: Iyengar Yoga or health education group.

Benefits of participating

• You will be contributing to improving our knowledge on brain and blood measure abnormalities that underlie grief related complications.
• You will contribute in assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of Iyengar Yoga and/or health education in improving symptoms of grief.

Interested in becoming a Participant?

Contact Abigail Webber, Research Coordinator, to become a participant or with questions.
awebber@mcw.edu | (414) 955-8970

Experiencing the death of a loved one is inevitable. Most grieving individuals are resilient and return to normal functioning but about 20% develop bereavement-related major depression, a condition associated with reduced quality of life, poorer medical outcomes, premature mortality and increased suicides. Early diagnosis to target treatment is essential to prevent these adverse health consequences, but currently we cannot identify who will progress from acute grief to bereavement-related major depression. Our goal in this project is to evaluate those with acute grief to identify brain changes that distinguish those who are resilient from those who will develop clinical depression.

Funding provided by the Costigan Family Foundation.

Sponsor: The National Institute of Mental Health
Principal Investigators: Joseph S. Goveas, MD; Cecilia J. Hillard, PhD

The major goals of this project are to determine components of the endocannabinoid signaling system (ECS) and brain network features associated with Late-life Depression (LLD) occurrence, and with persistent low mood and anhedonia, two core symptom dimensions of LLD. This NIH-funded study will set the stage for future seminal research that uses ECS and brain network function measures as biomarkers to aid diagnosis, predict and monitor outcomes to specific treatment interventions, and guide selection of optimal treatment for individual patients before initiation.

The Center for Complicated Grief
A major resource for webinars, research updates, and scientific articles, podcasts, manuals and tools, handouts related to complicated grief (aka prolonged grief disorder)

The Center for Complicated Grief
Training workshops covering principles and practice of complicated grief therapy (CGT)

Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC): The Thanatology Association
Several educational resources and websites offering assistance and information on a variety of topics related to grief, trauma, dying and death are listed

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Resources on grief and loss

Hospice Foundation of America
Grief resources

National Funeral Director Association
Grief resources

Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families

Sesame Street In Communities – Helping Kids Grieve

Griefwords
Resources for mourners and caregivers at Froedtert & the 星空无限传媒

Children’s Wisconsin-Milwaukee Hospital
Grief and bereavement resources

Horizon Home Care and Hospice
Grief Resource Center

Compassionate Friends
Supporting family after a child dies

Southeast Wisconsin Grief Network

Archdiocese of Milwaukee Bereavement Ministry

Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Cemeteries

Church and Chapel Funeral (under the grief support tab)

Kyles Korner
(414) 777-1585

Horizon Grief Resource Center
11400 W. Lake Park Dr.
Milwaukee WI 53224
This on-going support group is for people whose spouse/partner has died. This group is free of charge and does not require a commitment to attend a certain number of sessions. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early the first time you attend a support group to fill out the opening paperwork (this must be completed before attending group). Call (414) 586-8383 if you have questions.

Froedtert & the 星空无限传媒 Grief Support Group
Angela Polcyn, MS Thanatology is a bereavement coordinator and grief support specialist with advanced training. She offers a grief support group for families or individuals who have experienced the death of an adult loved one.
Learn more (PDF)

GriefShare support groups and seminars
This is Christian based grief support in various local churches with trained facilitators.

Church and Chapel Funeral (under the grief support tab)

Kyles Korner
(414) 777-1585

Healing Hearts

Grief Clinic
Froedtert Tosa Health Center
1155 N. Mayfair Rd.
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
(414) 955-8952
Please refer to the Grief Clinic description above

North Hills Health Center – Behavioral Health
W129 N7055 Northfield Dr.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
(262) 253-5400
Several therapists with experience providing counseling for grieving individuals are accepting patients

Horizon Grief Resource Center (GRC)
11400 W. Lake Park Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53224
(414) 586-8383
Horizon GRC offers a wide range of grief and bereavement services, including short-term individual and family counseling (by appointment), professional referrals for long-term counseling, support groups for various types of loss, educational workshops, wellness activities, presentations, and educational programs, etc.