Pharmacological Treatment Following Traumatic Bereavement: A Case Series

There is little evidence to guide the use of psychotropic medications immediately following bereavement. This article presents a review of the relevant literature, followed by a case series on the use of psychotropic medication in traumatically bereaved individuals. Of 20 active subjects, nine had been prescribed psychotropic medication in the days and weeks following a traumatic loss. The amount, type, and timing of medication in this sample is explored and compared to the extant literature. Results suggest that clinical practice may not be guided by empirical research in this area.