Disturbed grief: prolonged grief disorder and persistent complex bereavement disorder

BMJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. j2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A Boelen ◽  
Geert E Smid
Keyword(s):  
Prolonged Grief Disorder ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement 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.

scholarly journals A cognitive approach to persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD)

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Duffy ◽  
Jennifer Wild
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Diagnostic Category ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Classification Of Diseases ◽  
International Statistical Classification ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

AbstractPersistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD) has been included in the appendix of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders as a condition for further study, and a new diagnostic category of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is likely to be added to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) (Maercker et al., 2013). Whilst there is increasing evidence that prolonged grief has distinct characteristics (Bryant, 2012), there are clinical features that overlap with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as intrusive memories, emotional numbing, and avoidance of trauma or loss reminders. Here we describe how the cognitive model for persistent PTSD (Ehlers and Clark, 2000) and trauma-focused cognitive therapy for PTSD (Ehlers et al., 2005) have been helpful in treating persistent complex grief.

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.

Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith E. Charney ◽  
Sarah Wieman ◽  
Nicole Leblanc ◽  
Naomi Simon
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Psychological Response ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Traumatic Grief ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder ◽  
Over Time

Grief is an intensely painful, but natural and normal psychological response following the death of a loved one. Although there is no uniform pattern for adapting to loss, for the majority of people, acute grief naturally evolves over time into a more integrated, less painful form of grief in a way that is healthy and adaptive; this enables return to a satisfying life without the deceased. However, a growing literature has shown that complications can arise such that the natural recovery from acute grief stalls and grief becomes persistently intense and debilitating. This chapter describes the etiology, diagnostic and clinical features, differential diagnosis, epidemiology, pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of this condition, termed “complicated grief,” “traumatic grief,” “prolonged grief,” or “persistent complex bereavement disorder.”

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