ABSTRACT
Complicated grief (CG) is a disorder of significant impact, as described in other chapters of this book. In addition to the mental anguish accompanying this disorder, new evidence suggests that concurrent physiological changes occur and these could impact physical health. This chapter will begin by reviewing selective theories that incorporate physiological aspects of general bereavement (i.e., attachment theory and physiological co-regulation), and will then review theories that incorporate physiological changes in CG specifically. Next, the empirical evidence for the health effects of CG and physiological mechanisms are reviewed.
