Prolonged Grief Disorder (formerly known as Complicated Grief) is a diagnosis characterized by severe, persistent and disabling grief, and is a new diagnosis in the DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual latest edition #5 published by the American Psychiatric Association.) First identified by Dr. Kathleen Shear of Columbia University, Complicated Grief, or PGD as it is currently known, may be diagnosed when the following criteria are met:
Death of a person close to the bereaved at least 12 months ago
Persistent and pervasive yearning, longing or preoccupation with the deceased
Since the death, at least 3 of the following have been present most days to a clinically significant degree and nearly every day for at least the past month:
- Identity disruption
- Marked sense of disbelief
- Avoidance of reminders
- Intense emotional pain related to the death
- Difficulty engaging in ongoing life
- Emotional numbness as a result of the death
- Feeling life is meaningless because of the death
- Intense loneliness as a result of the death
The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
The duration and severity of the bereavement reaction clearly exceeds expected social, cultural, or religious norms for the individual’s culture and context
That said, I believe all grief is complicated and any of those criteria could be applied to most people grieving the death of someone in their lives. The key here is are you experiencing significant distress or impairment more than a year after the person has died? And even then that may not be cause for a diagnosis of PGD.
Grief is a normal, natural response to loss of any kind and is not pathological. Researchers say that less than 10% of people grieving a death will experience complicated grief or PGD. Often those who do had a complicated relationship with the person who died and suffered from anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenge(s) prior to the death. While there is a specific protocol for treating PGD that can be helpful, if you believe you are suffering from PGD, the most important thing you can do is to get one-on-one therapy for yourself where you can talk in a safe environment and tell the story of your loss and of your life to someone who knows how to listen.
Caution: if your doctor prescribes anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication for your depression, first see a grief professional. Grief is often misdiagnosed as depression.