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Around 10% of bereaved youths experience symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Recently, PGD was included in the two main classification systems for mental disorders: the ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR. Assessing PGD symptoms in youth is currently hindered by the lack of instruments for ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR criteria. To fill this gap, we developed an instrument to assess PGD symptoms in children and adolescents, the Traumatic Grief Inventory – Kids – Clinician-Administered (TGI-K-CA), based on input of grief experts and bereaved children. Five experts rated the items on alignment with DSM-TR and ICD-11 PGD symptoms and comprehensibility. The adjusted items were then presented to seventeen bereaved youths (Mdnage = 13.0 years, range = 8–17 years). Using the Three-Step Test Interview (TSTI), children were asked to verbalize their thoughts while answering the items. Issues raised by experts were mostly related to alignment with the DSM-5-TR/ICD-11 symptom, ambiguous formulation of the items, or low comprehensibility for children and adolescents. Items raising fundamental issues according to experts were adjusted. The TSTI showed that children encountered relatively few problems with the items. Frequently reported problems with some of the items (e.g. regarding comprehensibility) led to final adjustments. With input from grief experts and bereaved youths, an instrument to assess PGD symptoms as defined in DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 in bereaved youths was finalized. Further quantitative research is currently undertaken to evaluate the instrument's psychometric qualities. Children with symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) experience a debilitating longing for and/or preoccupation with a deceased loved one. Assessment of PGD in youth is hindered by the lack of an instrument. With the involvement of grief experts and bereaved youth, the current study developed an instrument that can be used in bereaved children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged grief disorder, a condition characterized by severe, persistent, and disabling grief, is newly included in ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR. Prolonged grief symptoms can be effectively treated with face-to-face or internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy. Traumatic losses may elicit higher prevalence of severe grief reactions. While face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy appears efficacious in treating prolonged grief symptoms in traumatically bereaved individuals, it is not yet clear if internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy is efficacious for this population. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of a 12-week internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for people bereaved through traffic accidents in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial (registration number: NL7497, Dutch Trial Register). Forty adults bereaved though a traffic accident were randomized to internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (n = 19) or a waitlist control condition (n = 21). Prolonged grief, post-traumatic stress, and depression symptoms were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 8-week follow-up. Dropout in the treatment condition was relatively high (42%) compared to the control condition (19%). Nevertheless, multilevel analyses showed that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy strongly reduced prolonged grief, post-traumatic stress, and depression symptoms relative to the control condition at post-treatment and follow-up. We conclude that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy appears a promising treatment for traumatically bereaved adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Losing a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic is a potentially traumatic loss that may result in symptoms of persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. To date, grief-specific cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has mostly been delivered through individual face-to-face formats, while studies have shown that online treatment also yields promising results. Offering treatment online is now more than ever relevant during the pan demic and may offer important benefits compared with face-to-face CBT, such as lower costs and higher accessibility. Our expectation is that grief-specific online CBT is effective in reducing PCBD, PTSD, and depression symptoms. Our aim is to evaluate the short-term and long-term effectiveness of grief-specific online CBT in reducing PCBD, PTSD, and depression symptom-levels for adults who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study consists of two parts. In part 1, a two-armed (unguided online CBT versus waitlist controls) randomized controlled trial will be conducted. In part 2, a two-armed (guided online CBT versus unguided online CBT) controlled trial will be conducted. Symptoms of PCBD, PTSD, and depression will be assessed via telephone interviews at pre-treatment/pre-waiting period, post-treatment/post-waiting period, and six months post-treatment. Potential participants are people who lost a loved one at least three months earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic with clinically relevant levels of PCBD, PTSD, and/or depression. Analysis of covariance and multilevel modelling will be performed. This is one of the first studies examining the effectiveness of online grief-specific CBT. More research is needed before implementing online grief-specific CBT into clinical practice. This is the first study examining the effectiveness of online treatment in reducing psychopathology levels in people who lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of bereavement research and care is at a tipping point. The introduction of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has ignited clinical interest in this new disorder, along with debate over challenges in validating and implementing these new criteria. At the same time, the global COVID-19 pandemic has launched several local and international efforts to provide urgent support and comfort for individuals and communities suffering from grief. Recently, grief experts have called for a collective response to these complicated bereavements and possible increase in PGD due to COVID-19. Here we outline a new European network that aims to unite a community of grief researchers and clinicians to provide accessible, evidence-based support particularly during times of unprecedent crisis. The Bereavement Network Europe (BNE) has been developed with two main aims. Firstly, to develop expert agreed, internationally acceptable guidelines for bereavement care through a three-tiered approach. Secondly, to provide a platform for researchers and clinicians to share knowledge, collaborate, and develop consensus protocols to facilitate the introduction of PGD to diverse stakeholders. This article outlines the current status and aims of the BNE along with the plans for upcoming network initiatives and the three-tiered bereavement care guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. • The COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted possible mental health difficulties for bereaved. • We present the new disorder, prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and a new European network. • We present the new disorder, prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and a new European network. • We introduce a platform for European clinicians and researchers to unite to develop evidence-based guidelines. • We outline the aims of the Bereavement Network Europe and a three-tiered system of bereavement care response to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Meta-analyses showed that the effects of online CBT for PTSD are promising. • Worldwide only one trial examined the effects of online EMDR for PTSD. • Wider usage and implementation of online EMDR seems premature in times of COVID-19. COVID-19 affects many societies by measures as "social distancing", forcing mental health care professionals to deliver treatments online or via telephone. In this context, online Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an emerging treatment for patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We performed a systematic review of studies investigating online EMDR for PTSD. Only one trial was identified. That uncontrolled open trial showed promising results. There is an urgent need to further examine the effects of online EMDR for PTSD, before its wider dissemination is warranted. Remotely delivered cognitive behavioural therapy seems the preferred PTSD-treatment in times of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]