Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (734 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Refers to the whole process of grieving and mourning and is associated with a deep sense of loss and sadness.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Bereavements; Ambiguous Loss; Ambiguous Losses; Loss, Ambiguous; Losses, Ambiguous.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 17,230 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Bereavement” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 3,947 of them (22.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 5,226 records.
Reviews account for 1,726 records (10.0%) and meta-analyses for 53. Randomized controlled trials number 297 (1.7%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 5,226 |
| 2000-2009 | 3,516 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,541 |
| 2020 onward | 3,947 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,726 | 10.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 53 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 297 | 1.7% |
Method: PubMed query "Bereavement"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in psychiatry and psychology
Research on mental health and behaviour relies on questionnaires, interviews and rating scales rather than physical measurements, so how a condition was defined and measured shapes every result. Many studies are observational or small, placebo responses can be large, and findings in one group or culture may not carry over to another. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; anyone worried about their mental health should talk to a qualified clinician. Check how outcomes were measured, who took part and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A rapid review of the evidence for online interventions for bereavement support | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 15 | cc by PMID 39407434 · DOI · PMC11673319 |
| Effectiveness of Nonpharmacological Interventions for Improving the Mental Health and Other Psychosocial Outcomes of Parents with Perinatal Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | 2024 | Meta-analysis Design not recorded in structured metadata | 11 | cc by PMID 40226713 · DOI · PMC11919000 |
| Professional Grief in Cancer Care-A Scoping Review | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 8 | cc by PMID 40280892 · DOI · PMC12031695 |
| How Do Home Care Workers Experience A Client's Death, Professionally and Personally? A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis | 2026 | Systematic review Design not recorded in structured metadata | 8 | cc by PMID 39608766 · DOI · PMC13646400 |
A rapid review of the evidence for online interventions for bereavement support [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundGrieving is a natural process, and many people adjust with support from family and friends.
- Closing excerpt
- National policies and clinical guidelines relating to bereavement support need to be updated to take account of online formats.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (239 words)
BackgroundGrieving is a natural process, and many people adjust with support from family and friends. Around 40% of people would benefit from additional input. Online bereavement support interventions may increase access to support. Evidence regarding their acceptability and effectiveness is emerging but needs to be synthesised.AimTo synthesise evidence on the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, impacts and implementation of online interventions to improve wellbeing, coping and quality of life after bereavement.DesignA rapid review of evidence regarding online bereavement support. We appraised study quality using AMSTAR 2 and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.Data sourcesEnglish language articles published 1 January 2010 to 4 January 2024, using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and APA PsycINFO. Eligible articles examined formal and informal online interventions to improve bereavement outcomes.ResultsWe screened 2050 articles by title and abstract. Four systematic reviews and 35 individual studies were included. Online bereavement support was feasible, acceptable and effective in reducing grief intensity, stress-related outcomes and depression. Where reported, participant retention was typically >70%. Positive impacts included: access to a supportive community at any time, reduced isolation; opportunities to process feelings; normalisation of loss responses; access to coping advice and opportunities for meaning-making and remembrance. Negative impacts included upset due to insensitive comments from others via unmoderated online forums.ConclusionOnline interventions can widen access to acceptable, effective bereavement support and improve outcomes for bereaved people. National policies and clinical guidelines relating to bereavement support need to be updated to take account of online formats.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39407434 · DOI · PMC11673319
Effectiveness of Nonpharmacological Interventions for Improving the Mental Health and Other Psychosocial Outcomes of Parents with Perinatal Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in enhancing the mental health and psychosocial outcomes of parents who have experienced perinatal loss, in comparison to active/inactive control groups.
- Closing excerpt
- To validate these findings and explore the process of nonpharmacological interventions in improving health outcomes for parents with perinatal loss from diverse backgrounds, further rigorous RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (199 words)
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in enhancing the mental health and psychosocial outcomes of parents who have experienced perinatal loss, in comparison to active/inactive control groups. It also sought to identify the characteristics and components of effective interventions in the included studies. A comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases from January 2008 to December 2023. The analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English journals and dissertations that reported at least one mental health outcome postintervention for parents with perinatal loss. Twenty-one RCTs were included. The findings demonstrated significant improvements of nonpharmacological interventions in the grief, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and perceived social support of parents with perinatal loss, with moderate-to-high certainty of evidence. Optimal characteristics of nonpharmacological interventions for parents with perinatal loss were identified to inform future studies, including the intervention approaches (cognitive-based interventions), delivery modalities (face-to-face), and formats (individual-based), and a recommended number of sessions of four or fewer. To validate these findings and explore the process of nonpharmacological interventions in improving health outcomes for parents with perinatal loss from diverse backgrounds, further rigorous RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40226713 · DOI · PMC11919000
Professional Grief in Cancer Care-A Scoping Review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveHealthcare professionals (HCPs) in cancer care often face patient deaths, yet there is a notable absence of comprehensive evidence regarding their grief.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsFuture research should refine definitions and measures to better support HCPs in effectively managing professional grief in cancer care.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (147 words)
ObjectiveHealthcare professionals (HCPs) in cancer care often face patient deaths, yet there is a notable absence of comprehensive evidence regarding their grief. This scoping review seeks to identify key aspects of professional grief in cancer care and give an overview pertaining its' conceptualization and frequency and intensity.MethodsThe primary search covered three databases (MEDLINE, PSYNDEX, and PsycINFO). Two independent reviewers assessed 2248 records, selecting 34 eligible articles.ResultsMost studies originated from North America and Israel, with limited evidence from the global south, East Asia and Europe, as well as few quantitative studies. HCPs exhibit classic grief symptoms (such as sadness) and distinct features (e.g., feelings of guilt) in response to patient deaths, though a clear definition and measures of professional grief are lacking. Grief frequency varies highly (from 23% to 100%).ConclusionsFuture research should refine definitions and measures to better support HCPs in effectively managing professional grief in cancer care.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40280892 · DOI · PMC12031695
How Do Home Care Workers Experience A Client's Death, Professionally and Personally? A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background: Home care workers (HCWs) may frequently experience client death.
- Closing excerpt
- Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that HCWs are affected in multiple ways by client death, but these impacts are not consistently recognised or responded to by their organisations.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (149 words)
Background: Home care workers (HCWs) may frequently experience client death. This critical interpretive meta-synthesis aimed to identify the impacts of client death to offer preliminary recommendations with respect to support. Method: Five electronic databases, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus, were searched systematically using keywords and subject headings. Results: Eight papers focusing on HCWs' experiences of client death were identified. Constructs were elicited and interpreted via Reciprocal Translation Analysis. The interpreted line of argument highlighted four interrelated themes: ''Personal grief: The impact of loss', 'Disenfranchised grief: no space for humanity and connection'', Inherent tension between self-care and organisational expectations: "You need a moment to hit the reset", and 'I wish someone was there to talk to: HCW support needs'. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that HCWs are affected in multiple ways by client death, but these impacts are not consistently recognised or responded to by their organisations.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39608766 · DOI · PMC13646400
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in adult bereavement: A systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Palliative Care for Family Caregivers [6]
- Research article Widowhood and mortality: a meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Psychological interventions for grief in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [8]
- Research article Bereavement in Times of COVID-19: A Review and Theoretical Framework [9]
- Research article Complicated Grief: Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Interventions [10]
Full-text reviews on EvidenceLib
Open-access review articles about this topic, reproduced in full with authors, licence and references.
Impacts of suicide bereavement on men: a systematic review
Nina Logan, Karolina Krysinska, Karl Andriessen · Frontiers in Public Health 2024 · CC BY 4.0
References
- Finucane A, Canny A, Mair APA, Harrop E, Selman LE, Swash B, et al.. A rapid review of the evidence for online interventions for bereavement support. . 2025. PMID 39407434 · DOI · PMC11673319
- Li SN, Yang L, Wang QY, Pan S, Xiao MH, Xie J. Effectiveness of Nonpharmacological Interventions for Improving the Mental Health and Other Psychosocial Outcomes of Parents with Perinatal Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. . 2024. PMID 40226713 · DOI · PMC11919000
- Wandke S, Führes H, Rutenkröger M, Lang K, Härter M, Oechsle K, et al.. Professional Grief in Cancer Care-A Scoping Review. . 2025. PMID 40280892 · DOI · PMC12031695
- Findlay GM, Robertson N. How Do Home Care Workers Experience A Client's Death, Professionally and Personally? A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis. . 2026. PMID 39608766 · DOI · PMC13646400
- Lundorff M, Holmgren H, Zachariae R, Farver-Vestergaard I, O'Connor M. Prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in adult bereavement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2017. PMID 28167398 · DOI
- Alam S, Hannon B, Zimmermann C. Palliative Care for Family Caregivers. J Clin Oncol. 2020. PMID 32023152 · DOI
- Moon JR, Kondo N, Glymour MM, Subramanian SV. Widowhood and mortality: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2011. PMID 21858130 · DOI · PMC3157386
- Johannsen M, Damholdt MF, Zachariae R, Lundorff M, Farver-Vestergaard I, O'Connor M. Psychological interventions for grief in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Affect Disord. 2019. PMID 31029856 · DOI
- Stroebe M, Schut H. Bereavement in Times of COVID-19: A Review and Theoretical Framework. Omega (Westport). 2021. PMID 33086903 · DOI · PMC7756059
- Mason TM, Tofthagen CS, Buck HG. Complicated Grief: Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Interventions. J Soc Work End Life Palliat Care. 2020. PMID 32233740 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.