Ann Intern Med

Evidence supports psychotherapy for grief relief, but gaps remain

February 3, 2026

A systematic review of 169 randomized trials found moderate strength of evidence that individual psychotherapy improves symptoms of grief disorder, grief, and depression in bereaved adults. Low-strength evidence suggested that expert‑facilitated support groups and enhanced contact with health care providers may improve depression symptoms. Evidence for other approaches—including pharmacotherapy, peer support, self‑help, integrative medicine, and writing, music, or art therapies—was conflicting, insufficient, or showed no benefit. Only 15 trials involved children, and overall evidence for pediatric and culturally specific interventions was limited.

Clinical takeaway: Prioritize individual psychotherapy for bereaved adults, and use other interventions cautiously given the limited and inconsistent evidence.

Source:

Zhang D, et al. (2026, February 3). Ann Intern Med. Care of Bereaved Persons: A Systematic Review. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03679