DREAM
Developing Resilience to Ease Anguish in Mourning
The goal of our transdisciplinary program is to:
- Determine psychosocial and neurobiological factors (or biological markers) that can complicate acute grief following the loss of a loved one
- Advance our neurobiological understanding of prolonged grief disorder and bereavement-related depression
- Identify interventions that may prevent the development of grief-related complications
- Identify treatments that can improve health outcomes in those who experience prolonged grief disorder and bereavement-related depression
- Share with the community resources and information regarding bereavement and its consequences
- Build academic-community partnerships in Wisconsin and beyond to improve care for the bereaved
- Educate and train both health professionals and lay public on (a) acute and integrated grief; (b) diagnosing and treating prolonged grief disorder and other grief-related complications; and (c) strategies to prevent grief-related complications.
Program Director's Message | Joseph S. Goveas, MD
Welcome to the MCW DREAM Program
Experiencing the death of a loved one is inevitable, and grief is a natural response. Most acutely grieving adults are resilient and recover their pre-loss functioning within a year. However, a significant minority develop complications such as prolonged grief disorder (or complicated grief) and bereavement-related depression. The development of these complications is especially high following the death of a life partner or a child. The public health consequences of prolonged grief disorder and bereavement-related depression are enormous, and include declines in physical health and cognition, poor quality of life, functional impairment, premature mortality, and an increased risk of suicide.
Despite the magnitude of this problem, we cannot distinguish those grieving individuals who are resilient and will successfully transition to integrated grief from those who are prone to develop prolonged grief disorder or bereavement-related depression. Thus, it is not known who among the grieving individuals warrants early intervention, what treatments are most effective, and when to initiate treatment.
DREAM is a transdisciplinary program that examines factors that can complicate acute grief following the loss of a loved one, with the goal of identifying interventions that prevent grief-related complications. We also aim to identify treatments that can improve long-term health outcomes in those experiencing prolonged grief disorder and bereavement-related depression.
Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Associate Professor, Institute for Health and Equity
Director, Geriatric Psychiatry
jgoveas@mcw.edu | (414) 955-8970
Current Research Studies
Research Study Participation
Are you interested in participating in the Emotion Regulation in Complicated Grief Study?
Complete the survey or contact Stacy Claesges, Research Coordinator, with questions.
sclaesge@mcw.edu | (414) 955-8970
Grief Clinic
The Grief Clinic at the Froedtert & MCW Tosa Behavioral Health Center serves adults who have experienced the death of a loved one. This clinic focuses on improving the health of bereaved individuals.
The clinic has:
- Therapists who can assist individuals during their acute grieving process.
- Therapists specifically trained in complicated grief therapy (CGT), and
- Psychiatrists who treat grief-related complications, including but not limited to prolonged grief disorder; bereavement-related depression and anxiety; and post-traumatic stress disorder.
To schedule an appointment:
Email cbischel@mcw.edu or call (414) 955-8952
In The News
Pandemic Takes Toll on Those Who Grieve
Terry D'arrigo
Psychiatric News, American Psychiatric Association | February 4, 2021
Mental Health: The Emotional Toll of the Pandemic, How Older Adults Are Grieving
Kathy Hardy
Today’s Geriatric Medicine (Vol. 14 No. 1 P. 26)
How COVID-19 Has Made The Grieving Process So Much Harder
WUWM 89.7
Milwaukee’s NPR Lake Effect's Joy Powers talks with Dr. Joseph Goveas about how COVID-19 has made coping with the loss of a loved one more difficult.
Medical College of Wisconsin to Study Brain Changes Following Loss of Loved One to Prevent Grief-Related Complications
Medical College of Wisconsin | August 7, 2020
Urban Milwaukee
Grief over covid-19 deaths may be unusually severe and long-lasting
Alice Klein
NewScientist | July 8, 2020
COVID-19 can trigger complicated grief among those who lost loved ones, experts warn
John Diente
International Business Times | July 10, 2020
COVID-19 May Lead to Uptick in Cases of Prolonged Grief Disorder
Psychiatric News Alert | July 1, 2020
Milwaukee study to focus on growing public health issue of late-life depression
Milwaukee Independent | November 12, 2017
Study finds that education, good health, and positive emotional wellbeing contribute to improved memory health in older women
Medical College of Wisconsin
Urban Milwaukee | February 29, 2016
Other Resources

Recent Publications
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Grief and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults.
(Goveas JS, Shear MK.) Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020 10;28(10):1119-1125 PMID: 32709542 PMCID: PMC7320675 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85088212034 07/28/2020
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Circulating endocannabinoid concentrations in grieving adults.
(Harfmann EJ, McAuliffe TL, Larson ER, Claesges SA, Sauber G, Hillard CJ, Goveas JS.) Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020 10;120:104801 PMID: 32682172 PMCID: PMC7348598 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85087803094 07/19/2020
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Amygdala Functional Connectivity Features in Grief: A Pilot Longitudinal Study.
(Chen G, Ward BD, Claesges SA, Li SJ, Goveas JS.) Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020 10;28(10):1089-1101 PMID: 32253102 PMCID: PMC7483593 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85082764762 04/08/2020
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(Goveas JS.) Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019 12;27(12):1331-1333 PMID: 31526546 PMCID: PMC7716776 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85072176914 09/19/2019
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(Driscoll I, Snively BM, Espeland MA, Shumaker SA, Rapp SR, Goveas JS, Casanova RL, Wactawski-Wende J, Manson JE, Rossom R, Brooks J, Hernandez DG, Singleton AB, Resnick SM.) Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019 05;34(5):692-699 PMID: 30706571 PMCID: PMC6608707 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85062720937 02/02/2019
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(Petkus AJ, Resnick SM, Rapp SR, Espeland MA, Gatz M, Widaman KF, Wang X, Younan D, Casanova R, Chui H, Barnard RT, Gaussoin S, Goveas JS, Hayden KM, Henderson VW, Sachs BC, Saldana S, Shadyab AH, Shumaker SA, Chen JC.) Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2019;5:118-128 PMID: 31011622 PMCID: PMC6461572 04/24/2019
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(Korthauer LE, Goveas J, Espeland MA, Shumaker SA, Garcia KR, Tindle H, Salmoirago-Blotcher E, Sink KM, Vaughan L, Rapp SR, Resnick SM, Driscoll I.) J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 03 14;73(4):506-512 PMID: 29028908 PMCID: PMC5861908 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85044222983 10/14/2017
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Are Optimism and Cynical Hostility Associated with Smoking Cessation in Older Women?
(Progovac AM, Chang YF, Chang CH, Matthews KA, Donohue JM, Scheier MF, Habermann EB, Kuller LH, Goveas JS, Chapman BP, Duberstein PR, Messina CR, Weaver KE, Saquib N, Wallace RB, Kaplan RC, Calhoun D, Smith JC, Tindle HA.) Ann Behav Med. 2017 Aug;51(4):500-510 PMID: 28194642 PMCID: PMC5554747 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85012250789 02/15/2017
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Long-term Effects on Cognitive Trajectories of Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy in Two Age Groups.
(Espeland MA, Rapp SR, Manson JE, Goveas JS, Shumaker SA, Hayden KM, Weitlauf JC, Gaussoin SA, Baker LD, Padula CB, Hou L, Resnick SM, WHIMSY and WHIMS-ECHO Study Groups.) J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017 Jun 01;72(6):838-845 PMID: 27506836 PMCID: PMC6075542 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85027490316 08/11/2016
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(Li W, Wang Y, Ward BD, Antuono PG, Li SJ, Goveas JS.) J Psychiatr Res. 2017 04;87:71-80 PMID: 28017917 PMCID: PMC5336398 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85007203312 12/27/2016
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(Dunn EC, Wiste A, Radmanesh F, Almli LM, Gogarten SM, Sofer T, Faul JD, Kardia SL, Smith JA, Weir DR, Zhao W, Soare TW, Mirza SS, Hek K, Tiemeier H, Goveas JS, Sarto GE, Snively BM, Cornelis M, Koenen KC, Kraft P, Purcell S, Ressler KJ, Rosand J, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Smoller JW.) Depress Anxiety. 2016 Apr;33(4):265-80 PMID: 27038408 PMCID: PMC4826276 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85016837684 04/03/2016
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Global Quality of Life Among WHI Women Aged 80 Years and Older.
(Naughton MJ, Brunner RL, Hogan PE, Danhauer SC, Brenes GA, Bowen DJ, Snively BM, Goveas JS, Saquib N, Zaslavsky O, Shumaker SA.) J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016 Mar;71 Suppl 1:S72-8 PMID: 26858327 PMCID: PMC5865532 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84973862281 02/10/2016
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Predictors of Optimal Cognitive Aging in 80+ Women: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study.
(Goveas JS, Rapp SR, Hogan PE, Driscoll I, Tindle HA, Smith JC, Kesler SR, Zaslavsky O, Rossom RC, Ockene JK, Yaffe K, Manson JE, Resnick SM, Espeland MA.) J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016 Mar;71 Suppl 1:S62-71 PMID: 26858326 PMCID: PMC4759985 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85015598616 02/10/2016
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(Casanova R, Wang X, Reyes J, Akita Y, Serre ML, Vizuete W, Chui HC, Driscoll I, Resnick SM, Espeland MA, Chen JC.) Front Hum Neurosci. 2016;10:495 PMID: 27790103 PMCID: PMC5061768 10/30/2016
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Depression and frailty in later life: a systematic review.
(Vaughan L, Corbin AL, Goveas JS.) Clin Interv Aging. 2015;10:1947-58 PMID: 26719681 PMCID: PMC4687619 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84949990899 01/01/2016
Acknowledgements
Contact Us
Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Tosa Health Center
1155 N. Mayfair Rd, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 955-8970
Program Director
Joseph S. Goveas, MD
Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Associate Professor, Institute for Health and Equity
Director, Geriatric Psychiatry
