A patient tells the nurse that since his wife died he has not been able to sleep and sees no reason to continue living. According to Freud's theory on grief and loss, what should the nurse realize this patient is experiencing?

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According to Freud's theory, grief involves two stages: mourning and melancholia. Melancholia is described as a pathological form of mourning that involves a deep depression and the loss of interest in the outside world. The patient's statement about not being able to sleep and seeing no reason to continue living suggest symptoms of depression.

A Patient Tells the Nurse That Since His Wife Died