[Prolonged grief disorder: a new diagnostic entity in DSM-5TR]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Grief Studies

Background:

• Grief is a natural response to loss.
• Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is defined by intense, persistent grief beyond 6-12 months (ICD-11/DSM-5-TR).
• Classical grief theories, including Freud's, offer different perspectives on mourning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the conceptual distinctions between PGD and traditional grief concepts.
• To highlight potential disagreements among diagnostic working groups.
• To discuss the implications of medicalizing grief.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of diagnostic criteria for PGD.
• Comparison with classical psychoanalytic theories of grief and mourning.
• Case illustration of grief work and the blurred line between normal and pathological grief.

Main Results:

• Significant conceptual differences exist between PGD and classical grief descriptions.
• These differences may reflect internal disagreements within diagnostic frameworks.
• An autobiographical case exemplifies the challenges in differentiating normal from pathological grief.

Conclusions:

• While PGD may address needs of an aging population, it risks pathologizing normal grief.
• The medicalization of grief warrants careful consideration.
• Further research is needed to refine the understanding and diagnosis of prolonged grief.