The distinctiveness of prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress disorder in adults bereaved by the attacks of September 11th

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders Vol. 136; no. 3; pp. 366 - 369
• Main Authors: Barnes, J. Ben, Dickstein, Benjamin D, Maguen, Shira, Neria, Yuval, Litz, Brett T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.02.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Bereavement; Biological and medical sciences; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Grief; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Prolonged Grief Disorder; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reproducibility of Results; September 11 Terrorist Attacks - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Trauma; Prolonged Grief Disorder; Bereavement; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Trauma; Human; Singularity; Anxiety disorder; Adult; Pathological bereavement; Stress
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.11.022

Abstract Background Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a new diagnosis proposed for inclusion in the DSM-V. Although some studies have shown the distinctiveness of PGD and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this relationship has yet to be tested within a context of sudden, violent loss. Method We conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using self-report data collected from a sample of 587 bereaved adults who lost friends and relatives in the attacks of September 11th. Participants completed a 9-item PGD screening measure and the 17-item PTSD Checklist. Results A five factor solution representing two distinct constructs emerged from our analysis. Although two PGD items loaded onto factors containing PTSD symptoms, these items assessed non-specific symptomatology (i.e., generalized negative affect). Thus, overall, our results support the distinctiveness of PGD and PTSD within a context of sudden, violent loss. Limitations Data were collected using self-report. The representativeness of our sample is uncertain. Conclusions These findings provide a stringent test of construct validity and suggest that PGD warrants inclusion in the diagnostic nosology. Adding PGD to the DSM-V will help clinicians better assess and treat psychopathology resulting from grief.