Prolonged Grief Disorder, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder are distinguishable syndromes.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the distinctiveness of symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We compared the fit of a one-factor model with the fit of four hierarchical models in which symptoms formed three distinct correlated higher-order dimensions, and PTSD-items were modeled in different ways.


METHODS
Self-reported data were available from two samples; 572 mourners recruited via the internet and 408 mourners recruited via healthcare workers.


RESULTS
In Sample 1, the unitary model did not fit the data. The four hierarchical models all fit better. The model in which PTSD-items constituted four lower-order factors of reexperiencing, avoidance, dysphoria, and hyperarousal fit the data best. The fit was further improved, when one weak PGD-item and one weak PTSD-item were removed, and error-terms of similar items were allowed to correlate. Findings from Sample 1 were replicated in Sample 2.


CONCLUSIONS
This study relied on self-reported data. Not all PGD-criteria and depression-criteria were assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first confirmatory factor analysis study showing that symptoms of PGD, depression, and PTSD represent distinguishable syndromes. PGD-symptoms should be addressed in the assessment and treatment of bereaved people seeking treatment.
Boelen
Paul A
PA
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. P.A.Boelen@uu.nl
van de Schoot
Rens
R
van den Hout
Marcel A
MA
de Keijser
Jos
J
van den Bout
Jan
J
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D003645:Death, Sudden; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology