Complicated grief and related bereavement issues for DSM-5.

TitleComplicated grief and related bereavement issues for DSM-5.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsM Shear K, Simon N, Wall M, Zisook S, Neimeyer R, Duan N, Reynolds C, Lebowitz B, Sung S, Ghesquiere A, Gorscak B, Clayton P, Ito M, Nakajima S, Konishi T, Melhem N, Meert K, Schiff M, O'Connor M-F, First M, Sareen J, Bolton J, Skritskaya N, Mancini AD, Keshaviah A
JournalDepress Anxiety
Volume28
Issue2
Pagination103-17
Date Published2011 Feb
ISSN1520-6394
KeywordsAdjustment Disorders, Bereavement, Chronic Disease, Depressive Disorder, Major, Diagnosis, Differential, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Grief, Humans, Risk Factors
Abstract

Bereavement is a severe stressor that typically incites painful and debilitating symptoms of acute grief that commonly progresses to restoration of a satisfactory, if changed, life. Normally, grief does not need clinical intervention. However, sometimes acute grief can gain a foothold and become a chronic debilitating condition called complicated grief. Moreover, the stress caused by bereavement, like other stressors, can increase the likelihood of onset or worsening of other physical or mental disorders. Hence, some bereaved people need to be diagnosed and treated. A clinician evaluating a bereaved person is at risk for both over-and under-diagnosis, either pathologizing a normal condition or neglecting to treat an impairing disorder. The authors of DSM IV focused primarily on the problem of over-diagnosis, and omitted complicated grief because of insufficient evidence. We revisit bereavement considerations in light of new research findings. This article focuses primarily on a discussion of possible inclusion of a new diagnosis and dimensional assessment of complicated grief. We also discuss modifications in the bereavement V code and refinement of bereavement exclusions in major depression and other disorders.

DOI10.1002/da.20780
Alternate JournalDepress Anxiety
PubMed ID21284063
PubMed Central IDPMC3075805
Grant List102682 / / Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canada
152348 / / Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canada
K01 AG028404 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K01 MH077930 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P30MH071944 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH060783 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH060783-06A1 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH060783-07 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH060783-08 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH070741 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH070741-01A2 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH070741-02 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH070741-03 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH070741-04 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH070741-05 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH060783 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH070741 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH085288 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH085297 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH085308 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R25MH084786 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States