“Out of the Fog”: A Case Report of a Treatment Based on Prolonged Grief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Background: Prolonged grief disorder (PGD), which is now included in ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR, is associated with a reduced quality of life and frequent comorbidities. Specific treatment elements such as exposure to the worst memory loss have been suggested to adequately address symptoms of PGD, such as longing for or preoccupation with the deceased person. Case Report: Mr. T. sought treatment on his own initiative and presented with symptoms of PGD after the death of his mother. The individual outpatient treatment was carried out with the help of integrative cognitive behavioral therapy according to Rosner and colleagues (prolonged grief cognitive behavioral therapy) supplemented by elements of dialectical behavioral therapy according to Linehan. At the end of the 9-month treatment period, there was a complete remission of the PGD symptoms, with Mr. T. reporting that he had regained his inner contentment. Conclusions: This case report is an example of the clarity of the manual by Rosner and colleagues. The aim was to reduce potential fears of addressing this relatively new disorder and, therefore, encourage therapists to diagnose and treat PGD after losses.