[Experience of loss and complicated grief in depressive inpatients]

Inpatients diagnosed with major depression that had lost a loved person were asked about loss-related variables and symptoms of complicated grief (CG).

CG was assessed by the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG-R). 14.2% of n = 127 individuals with unipolar depression met the criteria for CG. Depressive patients with CG compared to those without CG had a lower educational level; reported a higher loss-related burden at the time of loss, during the survey and the year after the loss; had significant different closeness within the relationships to the deceased; and time of loss was more recently.

An adequate differential diagnostic is essential for the treatment of major depression. Therefore loss-related factors and symptoms of complicated grief must be investigated regularly.