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The author gives an excellent descriptive account of the symptomatology of acute grief, as well as a discussion of the principles involved in its management. Acute grief is a definite affective syndrome. It may be delayed, exaggerated, or make its appearance in certain distortions. These distortions can be successfully transformed by appropriate techniques into a normal grief reaction with resolution.
Acute grief seems to be remarkably uniform and is characterized not only by its somatic manifestations, but also by feelings of guilt, manifestations of hostility and defenses against it, and changes in patterns of conduct. In some cases traits of the deceased appear in the behavior of the bereaved.
The essential task of therapy is that of sharing the patient's grief work—his efforts at extricating himself from the bondage to the deceased and at finding new patterns of rewarding interaction. Not only overreaction but also underreaction must be given attention. Severe agitated depressions may need shock treatment.
Lindemann also mentions the occurrence of anticipatory grief in situations of separation where there is the threat of death. While this reaction may be a safeguard should the death of the loved one occur, it can be a serious obstacle at the occasion of reunion.