JAMA Statement Response

In a subsequent e-mail Dr. Holly Prigerson, one of the authors of the JAMA article, took issue with the ADEC statement. ADEC invited her to post her response on our website. Here is that response in its entirety:  

No place in the JAMA piece did we state or imply as mentioned in the ADEC statement:'that everyone experiencing negative emotions beyond six months of a death loss from natural causes needs psychotherapy.' We do not say anything about psychotherapy for everyone or even anyone. The statement that those with higher than average scores beyond 6 months are "likely to reflect a more difficult than average adjustment and suggests the need for further evaluation of the bereaved survivor and potential referral for treatment." (p 722) is not saying everyone needs psychotherapy. We would like to assume we share an interest in trying to advance understanding and to ease the pain and suffering of bereaved individuals. An accurate reflection of our study results would seem a good place to start.

ADEC has issued the following response to Dr. Prigerson’s statement:
ADEC did not assert that the authors stated or intentionally implied that everyone experiencing negative emotions beyond six months of a death loss from natural causes needs psychotherapy. It was ADEC's point that those reading the article as well as the news coverage about the article could come away with an understanding that this was one take-home message, and it was ADEC's intent to address that impression in its statement.

ADEC has invited Dr. Prigerson to participate in a panel discussion of this article at the ADEC annual conference in Indianapolis, April 12-15. This discussion will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 8:30 a.m.

Updated: March 21, 2007