From the Editor
After the unexpected loss of his spouse, my patient sank deeply into grief. He was tearful during our sessions, explaining that a part of him had died, too. Weeks turned to months. Was this a normal response to a profound loss? Or something more problematic? DSM-5 seeks to clarify the issue by recognizing prolonged grief disorder – though the disorder is controversial and has attracted much criticism. When The New York Times covered the topic in 2022, Joanne Cacciatore (of Arizona State University) commented: “I completely, utterly disagree that grief is a mental illness.”
Clare Killikelly (of the University of Zurich) and her co-authors shed light on prolonged grief disorder with a new review, just published in The Lancet. They write about the disorder, the differences from grief, its treatment, and more, drawing on 142 citations. “Grief is a universal experience. However, for a minority of individuals, grief becomes a debilitating, devastating mental health disorder with serious implications on a personal and societal level.” We examine the review, highlight four take-aways, and reflect on the broader debate.

Spring forward, fall back. Twice a year, we adjust our clocks (and our brains) to and from daylight saving time. In the second selection, Dr. David Dongkyung Kim (of the University of Toronto) and his co-authors argue that daylight saving time should be eliminated. In their JAMA Commentary, they draw on the literature. “Daylight saving time transitions cause acute disruptions in human circadian rhythm, and the medical literature shows detrimental effects for public health.”
Finally, in the third selection, Dr. Joanne Hickey (of Memorial University) discusses anxiety and her expectations. In a personal CMAJ paper, the hematologist reflects on her work – and on her own journey, including her anxiety, the decision to take medications, and her need to come to terms with her perfectionism. “Anxiety has been my life companion, though I often didn’t recognize it. It masqueraded as that internalized need to control.”
DG
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