Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has been included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th edition (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Accurate assessment of the prevalence of PGD is imperative to healthcare poli...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2520634 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839646541565919232 |
|---|---|
| author | Maarten C. Eisma |
| author_facet | Maarten C. Eisma |
| author_sort | Maarten C. Eisma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has been included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th edition (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Accurate assessment of the prevalence of PGD is imperative to healthcare policy and practice. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of at-risk bereaved subgroups (e.g. those bereaved by natural disasters, unnatural causes, and COVID-19) yield very high prevalence rates (24–87%). These findings appear at odds with the well-established finding that most people respond to major negative life events resiliently. This letter explores two potential explanations for overestimated prevalence rates of PGD. First, non-probability sampling, typical to research in vulnerable bereaved subgroups, leads to overestimation of prevalence rates of PGD relative to probability sampling. Secondly, based on epidemiological research in depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, we consider the risk that the use of self-report scales, typical to grief research, may lead to overestimation of prevalence rates compared to clinical interviewing. We recommend international research, based on probability sampling, that systematically assesses loss characteristics and circumstances as well as ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR PGD symptoms, using validated scales, and, ideally, clinical interviewing in a subset of participants, to enable more accurate assessment of prevalence rates of PGD in different bereaved populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c10f33f83ec7410fadfdf38b64b9124b |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c10f33f83ec7410fadfdf38b64b9124b2025-06-30T13:45:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662025-12-0116110.1080/20008066.2025.2520634Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimatedMaarten C. Eisma0Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The NetherlandsProlonged grief disorder (PGD) has been included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th edition (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Accurate assessment of the prevalence of PGD is imperative to healthcare policy and practice. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of at-risk bereaved subgroups (e.g. those bereaved by natural disasters, unnatural causes, and COVID-19) yield very high prevalence rates (24–87%). These findings appear at odds with the well-established finding that most people respond to major negative life events resiliently. This letter explores two potential explanations for overestimated prevalence rates of PGD. First, non-probability sampling, typical to research in vulnerable bereaved subgroups, leads to overestimation of prevalence rates of PGD relative to probability sampling. Secondly, based on epidemiological research in depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, we consider the risk that the use of self-report scales, typical to grief research, may lead to overestimation of prevalence rates compared to clinical interviewing. We recommend international research, based on probability sampling, that systematically assesses loss characteristics and circumstances as well as ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR PGD symptoms, using validated scales, and, ideally, clinical interviewing in a subset of participants, to enable more accurate assessment of prevalence rates of PGD in different bereaved populations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2520634Griefbereavementcomplicated griefscreeningclinical interviewLuto |
| spellingShingle | Maarten C. Eisma Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated European Journal of Psychotraumatology Grief bereavement complicated grief screening clinical interview Luto |
| title | Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated |
| title_full | Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated |
| title_short | Prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated |
| title_sort | prevalence rates of prolonged grief disorder are overestimated |
| topic | Grief bereavement complicated grief screening clinical interview Luto |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2520634 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maartenceisma prevalenceratesofprolongedgriefdisorderareoverestimated |