Grief-related Major Depression Associated with the Death of Pet

Background: Pathological grief might be induced by pet loss in some people who may even suffer from major depression. We report two cases of individuals who suffered from grief-related major depression due to pet death. Case Reports: A 45-year-old male complained of severe depressive symptoms associated with excessive guilt for three months after the death of his golden retriever which he had raised for 12 years. He recovered three months later after receiving pharmacotherapy and supportive psychotherapy. A 20-year-old female patient suffered from severe depressive symptoms associated with repeated suicide attempts after the death of her chipmunk which she had raised for three years. She was lost to follow-up later due to poor insight. Conclusion: Although patients of pathological grief associated with pet death are relatively rare, they did happen and need to be treated optimally. Combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy might be needed for those who suffer from grief-related major depression.