Testing the distinctiveness of prolonged grief disorder from posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in large bereaved community samples.

Shevlin, Mark; Redican, Enya; Karatzias, Thanos; Hyland, Philip

Abstract

Background: This study sought to test the distinctiveness of symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and target exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used to test the distinctiveness of PGD from PTSD and depression symptoms in a large sample of adults bereaved for at least six months (N = 1,917). Identified factors were explored in relation to demographic (i.e., age, gender) and loss-related (i.e., time since bereavement, nature of death, relationship to deceased, age of deceased, and frequency of contact with deceased) correlates.
Results: The CFA model provided a good fit to the data, while the target EFA provided a slightly improved fit. All items loading strongly and significantly onto their respectively factors, and the IGQ items had few significant cross-factor loadings. All demographic and loss-related variables (except for death of a sibling and death from other causes) were associated with each of the factors, however, these associations were strongest for the PGD factor.
Limitations: Participants were recruited using a non-probability sampling method and were from a relatively affluent Western nation.
Conclusion: Findings from the current study demonstrate that PGD reflects an empirically distinguishable albeit related disorder to PTSD and depression in a sample of bereaved adults. The identification of correlates common to PGD, PTSD, and depression, as well as those unique to PGD, affords a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors associated with bereavement-related psychopathology.

Citation

Shevlin, M., Redican, E., Karatzias, T., & Hyland, P. (in press). Testing the distinctiveness of prolonged grief disorder from posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in large bereaved community samples. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 363, 214-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.127

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 21, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 25, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 22, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 25, 2024
• Electronic ISSN: 2666-9153
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 363
• Pages: 214-220
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.127
• Keywords: Prolonged Grief Disorder; Depression; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder