The Diagnosis of Complicated Grief as a Mental Disorder: A Critical Appraisal

Authors

  • Birgit Wagner University Clinic for Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Leipzig
  • Andreas Maercker Department of Psychopathology and Clinical Interventions, University of Zurich

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/pb-50-1-2-27

Abstract

In recent years, research on grief complications has focused on the development and validation of Complicated Grief diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). Even though research has shown that complicated grief is a disorder distinct from other psychiatric disorders such as PTSD and MDD, there are still concerns about the validation and conceptualisation of the proposed criteria. In this article, we review findings and different concepts with regard to complicated grief. Key issues are the currently proposed diagnostic criteria, differentiation between traumatic and non-traumatic bereavement, and relational aspects of the grief process.

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Published

2010-09-01

Issue

Vol. 50 No. 1-2 (2010)

Section

Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2010 The Author(s)

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