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. 2020 Jun;55(6):765-777.
doi: 10.1007/s00127-019-01776-w. Epub 2019 Sep 18.

Symptoms of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and depression in recently bereaved people: symptom profiles, predictive value, and cognitive behavioural correlates

Paul A Boelen  1   2   3 , Lonneke I M Lenferink  4   5
Affiliations

Symptoms of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and depression in recently bereaved people: symptom profiles, predictive value, and cognitive behavioural correlates

Paul A Boelen et al. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Prior latent class analyses (LCA) have focused on people who were bereaved more than 6 months earlier. Research has yet to examine patterns and correlates of emotional responses in the first few months of bereavement. We examined whether subgroups could be identified among very recently (≤ 6 months) bereaved adults, based on their endorsement of symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. Associations of class membership with overall disturbed grief, PTSD, and depression-assessed concurrently and at 6 months follow-up-were examined. Furthermore, we examined differences between classes regarding socio-demographics, loss-related, and cognitive behavioural variables.

Methods: PGD, PTSD, and depression self-report data from 322 Dutch individuals bereaved ≤ 6 months earlier were subjected to LCA; N = 159 completed the follow-up assessment. Correlates of class membership were examined.

Results: Three classes were identified: a low symptom class (N = 114; 35.4%), a predominantly PGD class (N = 96; 29.8%), and a high symptom class (N = 112; 34.8%). PGD, PTSD, and depression scores (assessed concurrently and at 6 months follow-up) differed significantly between classes, such that low symptom class < predominantly PGD class < high symptom class. Being a woman, younger, more recently bereaved, experiencing deaths of a partner/child and unnatural losses, plus maladaptive cognitions and avoidance behaviours were associated with membership of the pervasive symptom classes.

Conclusion: In the first 6 months of bereavement, meaningful subgroups of bereaved people can be distinguished, which highlights the relevance of early detection of people with elevated bereavement-related distress and offering them preventive interventions that foster adaptation to loss.

Keywords: Bereavement; Depression; Grief; LCA; PTSD; Posttraumatic stress; Prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare to have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plot probability estimates of a three-class solution
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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