Understanding Grief: When Time Doesn't Heal All Wounds

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The brain's reward system complicates grief

By Nicole Branan

Losing a loved one is always painful, but for most people time eventually heals the wounds. For about 10 to 20 percent of the bereaved, however, accepting and getting over a loss remains extremely difficult, even years later. Now researchers have come a step closer to elucidating the neurobiological underpinnings of this condition called complicated grief (CG). An August 15 functional MRI study in NeuroImage shows that in CG patients reminders of the deceased activate a brain area associated with reward processing, pleasure and addiction.

A team led by Mary-Frances O'Connor of the University of California, Los Angeles, studied 23 women—11 of whom suffered from CG—who had lost a mother or sister to breast cancer in the past five years. While in the scanner, the women saw pictures and words that reminded them of their loved one. Brain networks associated with social pain became activated in all women, but in the CG patients reminders of the deceased also excited the nucleus accumbens, a forebrain area most commonly associated with reward.

O'Connor believes this continued neural reward activity probably interferes with adaptation to the new situation. "When we see a loved one or reminders of a loved one, we are cued to enjoy that experience," she says. "But when a loved one dies, our brains have to adapt to the idea that these cues no longer predict this rewarding experience." Scientists do not yet know why some people adapt better than others do.

O'Connor hopes the findings will lead to new treatment strate­gies that will "help the brains and minds of CG patients understand that the person is gone."

Note: This article was orignially printed with the title, "When Time Doesn't Heal".

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=understanding-grief

[Peikko 1,575]

Matters of the brain, always interesting, rarely conclusive - complex thing that it is.

[almaty 19]

grief is always an individual experience.......that was an interesting post brother stevie

[one...two...tree 2,762]

grief is always an individual experience.......that was an interesting post brother stevie

Thanks, brother. My oldest brother, Brian, died just 3 days after turning 9 yrs. old. Our family was on vacation when it happened. Although I wasn't quite 3 yrs. old, I remember it like a dream. I watched my parents over the years deal with the grief, each in their own way. I think to this day, my mother cannot talk about Brian without becoming overwhelmed with emotions.

[jundp 191]

Very interesting.

And how one reacts to different types of grief is individualized as well. I didn't (and still don't) react the same way to my mother's death as I did to my dad's or my brother's.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

My "theory" with grief is that it can be experienced even when your loved one is alive, say in the case of chronic illness and the like. And grief -I think- does not totally ever go away, it just transforms itself.

Indeed a great read Steven, thanks.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

My "theory" with grief is that it can be experienced even when your loved one is alive, say in the case of chronic illness and the like. And grief -I think- does not totally ever go away, it just transforms itself.

Indeed a great read Steven, thanks.

I hear ya, sis. <hug>

[HAL 9000 96]

Thanks for that link Steven. Those of us that have lost family tragically really do benefit by having our minds occupied after the initial and subsequent encounters with grief therapy. Having the nucleus accumbens involved really does make sense- its literally connected to the pleasure centers that work in parallel to the movement regulation centers (the basal ganglia). In my case, involving myself in new sports activities helped with the loss of my father when I was 18.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Thanks for that link Steven. Those of us that have lost family tragically really do benefit by having our minds occupied after the initial and subsequent encounters with grief therapy. Having the nucleus accumbens involved really does make sense- its literally connected to the pleasure centers that work in parallel to the movement regulation centers (the basal ganglia). In my case, involving myself in new sports activities helped with the loss of my father when I was 18.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Thanks for that link Steven. Those of us that have lost family tragically really do benefit by having our minds occupied after the initial and subsequent encounters with grief therapy. Having the nucleus accumbens involved really does make sense- its literally connected to the pleasure centers that work in parallel to the movement regulation centers (the basal ganglia). In my case, involving myself in new sports activities helped with the loss of my father when I was 18.

Te quiero hermano

[HAL 9000 96]

Love you all, brothers and sisters.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Love you all, brothers and sisters.

[HAL 9000 96]

There. My Nucleus Accumbens totaly lit up on that one.