Phenomenology and correlates of complicated grief in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the phenomenology of complicated grief (CG) in parentally bereaved children and adolescents and to examine its correlates.


METHODS
This is a preliminary report from an ongoing 5-year, population-based, longitudinal study of the impact of parental loss on family members. Analyses of cross-sectional data at intake are presented. The sample consists of 129 children and adolescents of parents who died by suicide, accident, or sudden natural death. Their average age is 13.3 +/- 3.1 years (range 7-18 years). A modified version of the Inventory of Complicated Grief-Revised (ICG-R) was administered and its factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent and discriminant validity were examined.


RESULTS
CG was significantly related to functional impairment even after controlling for current depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. CG was also associated with other measures of psychopathology, including suicidal ideation.


CONCLUSIONS
In this preliminary analysis, CG appears to be a clinically significant syndrome in children and adolescents. Longitudinal data will help to clarify the prognostic significance of CG as well as to examine the interrelationship of CG and other psychopathology over time.
Melhem
Nadine M
NM
Drs. Melhem and Brent, Mrs. Moritz, and Ms. Walker are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh; and Dr. Shear is with the Columbia University School of Social Work, New York. Electronic address: brentda@upmc.edu.
Moritz
Grace
G
Drs. Melhem and Brent, Mrs. Moritz, and Ms. Walker are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh; and Dr. Shear is with the Columbia University School of Social Work, New York.
Walker
Monica
M
Drs. Melhem and Brent, Mrs. Moritz, and Ms. Walker are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh; and Dr. Shear is with the Columbia University School of Social Work, New York.
Shear
M Katherine
MK
Drs. Melhem and Brent, Mrs. Moritz, and Ms. Walker are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh; and Dr. Shear is with the Columbia University School of Social Work, New York.
Brent
David
D
Drs. Melhem and Brent, Mrs. Moritz, and Ms. Walker are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh; and Dr. Shear is with the Columbia University School of Social Work, New York.
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003645:Death, Sudden; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D013405:Suicide