Clinical psychology review
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Caregivers of terminally ill patients may experience anticipatory grief or low levels of preparedness for the patient's impending death. Both concepts are related to a forewarning of the impending loss. Anticipatory grief has been suggested to be grief work before the loss, which would improve bereavement outcome, but recent studies indicate a negative impact. Hence, this review systematically investigates key issues relating to anticipatory grief and preparedness for the death; definitions, measurement tools, and potential effects on caregiver outcome. ⋯ The assumptions that grief work before the loss would alleviate bereavement outcome was not confirmed. Thus, the concept of anticipatory grief is questioned. High preparedness was associated with improved caregiver outcome. Additional support should be given to caregivers with pre-loss grief and low preparedness.