DABDA Syndrome


The DABDA emotional cycle although originally focused on terminally ill patients, it has been extended to other areas where people perceive they are negatively impacted by change. Considering case evidence, success factors and implementation steps managers can help employees through the change-grief model more quickly.

Technique Overview

DABDA Syndrome

DABDA Syndrome Definition

The Kübler-Ross model, commonly known as DABDA or the 5 stages of grief, was first introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her book, On Death and Dying published in 1969. She formulated a model of how people cope with dying based on research and interviews with more than 500 dying patients. She proposed 5 stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargain, Depression and Acceptance. These stages are neither meant to be complete nor chronological (Kübler-Ross, 1969).

DABDA Syndrome Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of DABDA Syndrome *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of DABDA Syndrome *

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Professional Tools

DABDA Syndrome videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

DABDA Syndrome web and print resources *

DABDA Syndrome references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Barsade, S. (2008) Harnessing Fire: Managing Emotions for Successful Organizational Change. [online] Available at: (http://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/ebuzz/0802/classroom2.cfm) [Accessed 13 October 2015].
  • Bowlby, J. (1961) Processes of Mourning. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, Vol.42, pp.317-339.
  • Currier JM, Holland JM, Neimeyer RA. (2006) Sense-making, Grief, and the Experience of Violent Loss: Toward a Mediational Model. Death Studies, Vol.30, pp.403- 428.
  • Downe-Wamboldt B, Tamlyn D. (1997) An international survey of death education trends in faculties of nursing and medicine. Death Studies, Vol.21, pp.177-188.

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