# Web Based Therapist Training on Complicated Grief Therapy

> **NIH NIH R41** · CENTER FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTATION · 2021 · $156,130

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Current estimates suggest that death rates from Covid-19 will continue to rise and, at the very
least, will lead to tens of thousands of deaths. Sadly, the circumstances of these deaths will
likely increase the rates of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) well over the estimated 7% of the
overall bereaved population. The DSM5 has now joined the ICD-11 in proposing similar
diagnostic criteria and in using the name Prolonged Grief Disorder to designate a syndrome
characterized by persistent, pervasive and impairing grief. Sudden unexpected death, the need
for physical distancing, the high contagiousness of the virus, the widespread unemployment and
the ongoing highly stressful context in which these deaths occur are unique characteristics of
covid-19 deaths that increase the risk of developing PGD. We developed a short-term,
manualized Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT) for this condition and found it efficacious in
three large NIMH sponsored randomized controlled trials. In the parent grant, we develop an
on-line therapist training in CGT to help disseminate CGT training, a skill now greatly in demand
and one not widely possessed. In this administrative supplement we plan add two major
features to our parent study in response to the COVID epidemic: 1) development of a patient-
facing therapist-assisted web-based form of CGT developed specifically to deal with COVID-
related grieving and 2) development of three supplementary therapist training modules: a)
special considerations when delivering CGT for covid-related loss, b) how to administer CGT
remotely via videoconference and c) how to integrate the patient-facing form of CGT into
clinician-guided treatment. A hybrid model using both self-guided therapeutic activities
augmented with a therapist guide has been successfully demonstrated in the UK, and has been
adopted as best practice for the treatment of depression. Such a model will both 1) enhance
the efficacy of treatment, as studies have shown that the more a patient understands the
concepts of treatment, the better the treatment outcomes, and 2) will enable the reduction in the
number of clinician sessions, both reducing patient costs and freeing clinician time to treat more
patients in order to meet the overwhelming demand due to this crisis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10159519
- **Project number:** 3R41MH118126-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** CENTER FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenneth A Kobak
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $156,130
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2021-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10159519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10159519, Web Based Therapist Training on Complicated Grief Therapy (3R41MH118126-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10159519. Licensed CC0.

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