scholarly journals “Prolonged grief disorder” and “persistent complex bereavement disorder”, but not “complicated grief”, are one and the same diagnostic entity: an analysis of data from the Yale Bereavement Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul K. Maciejewski ◽  
Andreas Maercker ◽  
Paul A. Boelen ◽  
Holly G. Prigerson
Keyword(s):  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Prolonged Grief Disorder ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

Performance characteristics and clinical utility of diagnostic criteria proposals in bereaved treatment-seeking patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Mauro ◽  
M. K. Shear ◽  
C. F. Reynolds ◽  
N. M. Simon ◽  
S. Zisook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

BackgroundPersistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD) is a protracted form of grief included in DSM Section 3 indicating a need for more research. Two other criteria sets [prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and complicated grief (CG) disorder] are also currently in use by researchers. This study evaluates rates of diagnosis of each proposed criteria set in a clinical sample of bereaved individuals participating in clinical research.MethodTwo groups in which persistent grief was judged to be present or absent completed an assessment instrument that included items needed to diagnose PCBD as well as PGD and CG. One group included grief treatment-seeking participants in our multicenter National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-sponsored study who scored ⩾30 on the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) and the other comprised bereaved adults enrolled in clinical research studies who scored <20 on the ICG. Rates of diagnosis were determined for proposed PCBD, PGD and CG criteria.ResultsPCBD criteria diagnosed 70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 64.2–75.8] % of the grief treatment-seeking group, PGD criteria identified 59.6 (95% CI 53.4–65.8) % of these individuals and CG criteria identified 99.6 (95% CI 98.8–100.0) %. None of the three proposed criteria identified any cases in the bereaved comparison group.ConclusionsBoth proposed DSM-5 criteria for PCBD and criteria for PGD appear to be too restrictive as they failed to identify substantial numbers of treatment-seeking individuals with clinically significant levels of grief-related distress and impairment. Use of CG criteria or a similar algorithm appears to be warranted.

scholarly journals Prolonged, but not complicated, grief is a mental disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 211 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul K. Maciejewski ◽  
Holly G. Prigerson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Prolonged Grief Disorder ◽  
Prolonged Grief

SummaryThe DSM and ICD have taken steps to introduce a grief disorder as a new diagnostic entity. Evidence justifies the inclusion of prolonged grief disorder, but not complicated grief, as a new mental disorder.

A case series: Efficacy of short term EMDR on patients with persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD)

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S360-S361
Author(s):  
F.D. Usta ◽  
A.B. Yasar ◽  
A.E. Abamor ◽  
M. Caliskan
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Traumatic Loss ◽  
Degree Relative ◽  
Current Case ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder ◽  
Emdr Therapy

Grief is a normal response to loss of someone to whom a bond was formed; however, prolonged grief is considered pathological. Persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD) is defined as a persistent longing for the deceased over 12 months. Several treatment ways have been used for traumatic loss including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). In the current case series, effectiveness of EMDR on three PCBD patients will be indicated. Three patients applied to the clinic with similar complaints based on different traumatic backgrounds; commonly, all experienced death of a first-degree relative. Complaints of the patients were over-thinking about the deceased, sleep disturbances, self-blaming, social isolation, avoiding talks about lost relative, and loss of interest in activities. After pre-interviews, they were advised EMDR therapy. One session of EMDR was applied to two of the patients, and two EMDR sessions were conducted on one of them. After the sessions, the patients reported not feeling guilty about the loss anymore, returning their normal routines, feeling better, and showing decreased avoidance. Additionally, the scores of scales (CAPS, BAI, BDI, and IES-R) significantly declined. EMDR therapy can show successful results in a shorter time than other treatment ways used for PCBD treatment [1].Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Complicated grief: Is there a place in psychiatry?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S458-S458
Author(s):  
S.L. Azevedo Pinto ◽  
J. Soares ◽  
A. Silva ◽  
R. Curral
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Adjustment Disorder ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Adequate Treatment ◽  
Psychiatric Syndrome ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

IntroductionGrief is as normal reactive to a significant personal loss. It is characterized by affective, cognitive, behavioural and physiological symptoms. The grieving process is usually divided in five different stages, but in most cases presents a benign course, with decreased suffering and better adaptation to the new context. However, when high levels of emotional suffering or disability persist over a long time period, it becomes a case of complicated grief (CG), which should be adequately addressed.ObjectivesTo review the characteristics of CG, the evidence that supports it as an individual pathological entity, and its place in current classification systems.MethodsWe performed a bibliographic search in Pubmed and PsychInfo, of articles written in English, Portuguese and Spanish, containing the key words: grief, bereavement, psychiatry, classification.ResultsThe main issue regarding grief is the degree to which it is reasonable to interfere with a usually benign process. Since DSM-III bereavement has been referred to as an adaptive reaction to an important loss, which should not be diagnosed as major depressive disorder or adjustment disorder. However, DSM-5 has stated persistent complex bereavement disorder as an independent entity. In fact, CG fulfils the general criteria of every psychiatric syndrome, namely regarding specific diagnosis criteria, differential diagnosis from depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, and improvement with adequate treatment.ConclusionIt is important to correctly approach CG, since it presents with characteristic diagnosis features and much improvement may be achieved once adequate treatment is provided.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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