title: The distinctiveness of prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress disorder in adults bereaved by the attacks of September 11th.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a new diagnosis proposed for inclusion in the DSM-V. Although some studies have shown the distinctiveness of PGD and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this relationship has yet to be tested within a context of sudden, violent loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using self-report data collected from a sample of 587 bereaved adults who lost friends and relatives in the attacks of September 11th. Participants completed a 9-item PGD screening measure and the 17-item PTSD Checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A five factor solution representing two distinct constructs emerged from our analysis. Although two PGD items loaded onto factors containing PTSD symptoms, these items assessed non-specific symptomatology (i.e., generalized negative affect). Thus, overall, our results support the distinctiveness of PGD and PTSD within a context of sudden, violent loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data were collected using self-report. The representativeness of our sample is uncertain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide a stringent test of construct validity and suggest that PGD warrants inclusion in the diagnostic nosology. Adding PGD to the DSM-V will help clinicians better assess and treat psychopathology resulting from grief.
authors.affiliation: VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA. Ben.Barnes@va.gov
authors.forename: J Ben
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Dickstein
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maguen
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Neria
authors.forename: Brett T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Litz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*