Prolonged grief disorder

Grief is a natural response to the loss of a loved one, and for most bereaved people its intensity usually subsides over time; however, approximately 3-4% of bereaved individuals experience a prolonged grief disorder (PGD) characterized by longing for the deceased person accompanied by intense emotional pain and significant impairment in important functional areas. The PGD was included in the 11th version of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) and the 5th version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). In the differential diagnostics PGD can be distinguished from other mental disorders. Symptom overlaps can be found, especially with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition to the diagnostic criteria and the differential diagnostics, this article provides information on prevalence rates, comorbidities, risk factors, and treatment options for PGD.