ABSTRACT

One of the four problem areas studied in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), grief is a subjective response to the loss of an attachment figure. IPT focuses on creating a safe environmentin which to grieve. In IPT, the therapeutic task is also to help the patient focus on new sourcesof so- cialsupport and to develop and use new relationships. The patient is encouraged to express the ex- perience of loss, to increase the communicationwith significant others while feeling the persistenceof his/her attachment bond.