BACKGROUND: Complicated grief (CG) has been proposed as a distinct diagnostic category in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). However, few epidemiological studies to date have measured CG in the general population. METHODS: Prevalence of CG, sociodemographic characteristics, and grief-related factors were examined in a representative population-based survey (N = 2520) through face-to-face contact. The sample included all bereaved subpopulations and all age groups from 14 to 95 years. RESULTS: The conditional prevalence of developing CG after major bereavement was 6.7%; the prevalence of CG in the general sample was 3.7%. Predictors of higher risk for developing CG were female gender, lower income (< €1250/month), older age (> 61 years), having lost a child or a spouse, or cancer as the cause of death. LIMITATIONS: The sample of bereaved people was small, and some categories contained very few cases. Psychiatric comorbidities were not assessed in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that CG is prevalent in the population, and risk factors were identified.
BACKGROUND: Complicated grief (CG) has been proposed as a distinct diagnostic category in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). However, few epidemiological studies to date have measured CG in the general population. METHODS: Prevalence of CG, sociodemographic characteristics, and grief-related factors were examined in a representative population-based survey (N = 2520) through face-to-face contact. The sample included all bereaved subpopulations and all age groups from 14 to 95 years. RESULTS: The conditional prevalence of developing CG after major bereavement was 6.7%; the prevalence of CG in the general sample was 3.7%. Predictors of higher risk for developing CG were female gender, lower income (< €1250/month), older age (> 61 years), having lost a child or a spouse, or cancer as the cause of death. LIMITATIONS: The sample of bereaved people was small, and some categories contained very few cases. Psychiatric comorbidities were not assessed in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that CG is prevalent in the population, and risk factors were identified.
Authors: Richard D Goldstein; Carter R Petty; Sue E Morris; Melanie Human; Hein Odendaal; Amy Elliott; Deb Tobacco; Jyoti Angal; Lucy Brink; Hannah C Kinney; Holly G Prigerson Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2018-11-09 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Luana Marques; Eric Bui; Nicole LeBlanc; Eliora Porter; Donald Robinaugh; M Taylor Dryman; Mireya Nadal-Vicens; John Worthington; Naomi Simon Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2013-03-11 Impact factor: 6.505