Cited by 116Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthMental Health Research TopicsDeath, Funerary Practices, and Mourning

Symptoms of persistent complex bereavement disorder, depression, and PTSD in a conjugally bereaved sample: a network analysis

Malgaroli, Matteo, Maccallum, Fiona, Bonanno, George A.·2018·Psychological Medicine

Abstract

Background: Complicated and persistent grief reactions afflict approximately 10% of bereaved individuals and are associated with severe disruptions of functioning. These maladaptive patterns were defined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD), but its criteria remain debated. The condition has been studied using network analysis, showing potential for an improved understanding of PCBD. However, previous studies were limited to self-report and primarily originated from a single archival dataset. To overcome these limitations, we collected structured clinical interview data from a community sample of newly conjugally bereaved individuals (N= 305). Methods: Gaussian graphical models (GGM) were estimated from PCBD symptoms diagnosed at 3, 14, and 25 months after the loss. A directed acyclic graph (DAG) was generated from initial PCBD symptoms, and comorbidity networks with DSM-5 symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were analyzed 1 year post-loss. Results: In the GGM, symptoms from the social/identity PCBD symptoms cluster (i.e. role confusion, meaninglessness, and loneliness) tended to be central in the network at all assessments. In the DAG, yearning activated a cascade of PCBD symptoms, suggesting how symptoms lead into psychopathological configurations. In the comorbidity networks, PCBD and depressive symptoms formed separate communities, while PTSD symptoms divided in heterogeneous clusters. Conclusions: The network approach offered insights regarding the core symptoms of PCBD and the role of persistent yearnings. Findings are discussed regarding both clinical and theoretical implications that will serve as a step toward a more integrated understanding of PCBD.

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Crossref · 10.1017/s0033291718001769

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Authors
Malgaroli, M., Maccallum, F., & Bonanno, G. A.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Malgaroli, Matteo
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Published
2018-07-18
Volume
48
Issue
14
Pages
2439-2448
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
OpenAlex
W2884786602
Cited by
116
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1
FWCI
11.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH091034)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
Keywords
prolonged grief disorder, complicated grief, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, longing, identity diffusion, meaninglessness, loneliness, symptom comorbidity, symptom networks
MeSH terms
Bereavement, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Models, Statistical, Comorbidity, Spouses

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