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Symptoms of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and depression in recently bereaved people: symptom profiles, predictive value, and cognitive behavioural correlates.
- Source :
-
Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology [Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol] 2020 Jun; Vol. 55 (6), pp. 765-777. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Sep 18. - Publication Year :
- 2020
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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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1433-9285
- Volume :
- 55
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31535165
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01776-w