Abstract
The definition of “complicated grief” has long been debated. On the one
hand, it has been used to describe a broad range of difficult and prolonged
grief reactions following the death of a loved one. That is, reactions like
severe and persistent symptoms of grief, physical and psychiatric illnesses,
and untimely death. On the other hand, complicated grief has been used to
describe a more specific form of pathological grief. This condition has also
been called prolonged grief, traumatic grief, and pathological grief. Sometime
in 2018, the WHO is due to publish a revised version of the ICD-11,
which will likely include a diagnosis of “Prolonged Grief Disorder” (in Danish
“Vedvarende Sorglidelse”). This article proposes that complicated grief
retains its definition as a broad term, describing grief reactions which do not
follow a natural progression but instead become prolonged and impairing.
That is, we argue that complicated grief is an “umbrella term” which encompasses
maladaptive grief reactions in the form of 1) prolonged grief disorder,
2) loss-related depression, PTSD, and anxiety, and 3) somatic illnesses. We
also focus on the current research findings pertaining to the anticipated and
more narrow grief diagnosis, “prolonged grief disorder”. We will discuss the
proposed diagnostic criteria, how to differentiate it from depression and
PTSD, and recommendations for treatment.
hand, it has been used to describe a broad range of difficult and prolonged
grief reactions following the death of a loved one. That is, reactions like
severe and persistent symptoms of grief, physical and psychiatric illnesses,
and untimely death. On the other hand, complicated grief has been used to
describe a more specific form of pathological grief. This condition has also
been called prolonged grief, traumatic grief, and pathological grief. Sometime
in 2018, the WHO is due to publish a revised version of the ICD-11,
which will likely include a diagnosis of “Prolonged Grief Disorder” (in Danish
“Vedvarende Sorglidelse”). This article proposes that complicated grief
retains its definition as a broad term, describing grief reactions which do not
follow a natural progression but instead become prolonged and impairing.
That is, we argue that complicated grief is an “umbrella term” which encompasses
maladaptive grief reactions in the form of 1) prolonged grief disorder,
2) loss-related depression, PTSD, and anxiety, and 3) somatic illnesses. We
also focus on the current research findings pertaining to the anticipated and
more narrow grief diagnosis, “prolonged grief disorder”. We will discuss the
proposed diagnostic criteria, how to differentiate it from depression and
PTSD, and recommendations for treatment.
| Original language | Danish |
|---|---|
| Journal | Psyke og Logos |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 15-36 |
| ISSN | 0107-1211 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |