ISOLATION, GRIEF, AND DEPRESSION IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19: CBT INTERVENTIONS FOR EMOTIONAL REORGANIZATION

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about profound transformations in the experience of grief and the manifestation of depressive symptoms, intensifying psychological distress in individuals who faced significant losses without the possibility of performing farewell rituals. The present study aimed to analyze, through a literature review, the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in emotional reorganization in the face of grief and depression within this pandemic context. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach, based on scientific articles published between 2020 and 2024, selected according to thematic and methodological relevance criteria. Data analysis revealed that CBT, by proposing structured strategies such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and exposure techniques, demonstrated positive results in alleviating distress and restoring the emotional functioning of individuals. The possibility of remote application enabled access to psychological care even during social distancing, broadening the applicability of the approach. The studies also indicated that grief during the pandemic presented specific characteristics, such as the absence of rituals, feelings of guilt, emotional isolation, and overlapping losses—factors that required therapeutic interventions adapted and sensitive to the uniqueness of each experience. CBT proved to be suitable for meeting these demands by allowing the identification of dysfunctional thoughts, the acknowledgment of intense emotions, and the reconstruction of routines based on new meanings. Despite the observed benefits, limitations were identified related to technological infrastructure, online session privacy, and the need for professional training to address collective grief. It is concluded that CBT represents an effective and accessible approach for emotional reorganization in times of crisis, provided it is applied with flexibility, active listening, and an ethical commitment to comprehensive mental health care.