A 56-year-old woman comes to your office because she has not been herself since her...

Her presentation at 6 weeks after a spouse’s death is most consistent with acute/normal grief : intense sadness, crying, social withdrawal, reduced appetite, and waves of distress triggered by reminders of the deceased. MCCQE objectives stress distinguishing grief from major depressive disorder by the fluctuating nature of symptoms , grief “pangs,” and the link to thoughts of the deceased. Although she expresses wishing to “join” her husband, this can occur in normal bereavement; the key clinical duty is to assess safety (suicidal intent, plan, means, past attempts, protective factors). In the absence of imminent risk or psychosis, inpatient/day-hospital admission is not the default. “Reassurance” alone is insufficient because she is significantly impaired and needs structured support. The best next step is referral for bereavement-focused support (often via social work), which can provide grief counseling, coping strategies, mobilization of supports, and monitoring, and can facilitate escalation if complicated grief or major depression emerges. Family systems therapy may help later, but immediate practical and grief-specific support plus safety assessment is the priority.