Prolonged Grief and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following the Loss of a Significant Other: An Investigation of Cognitive and Behavioural Differences
Abstract
Cognitive behavioural correlates to bereavement-related mental health problems such a Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are of theoretical and clinical importance.
Methods:Individuals bereaved at least six months (N = 647) completed measures of loss-related cognitions and behaviours (i.e. loss-related memory characteristics, negative appraisals, coping strategies, grief resilience, and perceived social disconnection) and measures of PGD and PTSD symptoms.
Individuals were assigned to one of four groups depending on probable clinical diagnoses (No-PGD/PTSD, PTSD, PGD, PGD+PTSD).
Results:Results indicated that higher loss-related memory characteristics and lowergrief resilience increased the likelihood of a clinical problem.
The PGD and PGD+PTSD groups reported significantly higher loss-related memory characteristics and appraisals compared to the PTSD group.
Social disconnection increased the likelihood of comorbid PGD+PTSD in comparison to any other group.
Conclusions:Results indicate cognitive differences between loss-related cognitions, memory characteristics and coping strategies between PGD andPTSD,and points to distinct cognitive correlatesto psychopathology following loss.
Citations
Kirsten V. Smith & Anke Ehlers. Prolonged Grief and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following the Loss of a Significant Other: An Investigation of Cognitive and Behavioural Differences. PsyArXiv. January 7
Page last reviewed: 12 June, 2025
Metadata
Author(s): Ehlers, Anke; Smith, Kirsten V
Collection: 123456789/30
Subject(s): Bereavement, Grief, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Format(s): Preprint
Date issued: 2020-01
ISSN: 2331-8422
ID: 465