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A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

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Published on: February 22, 2018

Grief as a psychiatric disorder.

Richard A Bryant¹

¹School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia. r.bryant@unsw.edu.au

The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science

|July 4, 2012

Summary

Distinguishing prolonged grief from depression after loss is challenging. Research supports a distinct diagnosis for prolonged grief disorder, characterized by significant impairment, separate from major depressive disorder.

Area of Science:

Psychiatry and Mental Health
Grief and Bereavement Studies
Diagnostic Classification Systems

Background:

Current diagnostic manuals, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), are evolving to classify reactions to bereavement.
A key challenge lies in differentiating between a normal, albeit depressed, response to loss and a clinical depressive disorder.
Insufficient data currently hinders the precise diagnostic criteria for distinguishing these states.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the evidence base for differentiating depressive disorders from bereavement-related depressed states.
To evaluate the diagnostic validity and clinical utility of a proposed prolonged grief disorder diagnosis.
To inform diagnostic development in major classification systems concerning psychopathological reactions to loss.

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Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of existing empirical data on bereavement, depression, and prolonged grief.
Analysis of diagnostic criteria proposed in DSM-5 and ICD-11 revisions.
Comparison of clinical features and impairment associated with prolonged grief versus major depressive disorder.

Main Results:

The distinction between major depressive disorder and normal bereavement-related depressed states remains poorly defined due to limited supporting data.
Strong evidence supports the recognition of prolonged grief disorder as a distinct clinical entity.
Prolonged grief is characterized by marked functional impairment and is distinguishable from unipolar depression.

Conclusions:

Further research is needed to refine diagnostic criteria for differentiating normal grief from depressive disorders.
Prolonged grief disorder represents a valid and clinically significant diagnosis that warrants separate consideration from depression.
The findings support the inclusion and clear delineation of prolonged grief disorder in future diagnostic manuals.