Parameters of normal grief: A delphi study

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Abstract
This study explored bereavement experts' perceptions of the parameters of normal grief. The purpose of the study was twofold: to identify the terms used by the experts to designate grief that falls outside normal parameters; and to identify the physical, emotional, and behavioral manifestations of grief that these experts used to differentiate between normal grief and grief that falls outside the normal response range (GONR). A modified Delphi technique was used. The 22 experts identified 34 different descriptors of GONR, and 31 items that indicated the parameters of normal grief. The experts agreed that, early in bereavement, numerous manifestations are within normal parameters. However, later in the bereavement period, many of these manifestations are perceived as possibly or definitely outside the normal response range. The majority of the experts perceived all of the 31 manifestations as outside normal parameters at five year post bereavement. Caution must be used in generalizing from this small, select sample to other groups.

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