On the Classification and Reporting of Prolonged Grief: Assessment and Research Guidelines

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is now recognized in major diagnostic manuals (ICD-11, DSM-5-TR).
• Accurate classification and reporting of PGD are essential for research and clinical practice.
• Assessment instruments and diagnostic criteria for PGD are still evolving.

Approach:

• This article examines current procedures for classifying and reporting PGD in scientific literature.
• A Scopus search identified 22 articles on PGD prevalence published between 2019 and 2023.
• The study outlines standard diagnostic steps for mental disorders, including clinical interviews.

Key Points:

• Current PGD prevalence data often derive from self-reported symptoms via questionnaires, omitting clinical interviews.
• This reliance on self-report likely leads to systematic overestimation of PGD prevalence.
• The necessity of structured clinical interviews for diagnosis is frequently understated in research limitations.

Conclusions:

• Standard diagnostic procedures are not consistently followed in PGD research.
• Guidelines are proposed for future research and reporting of PGD, emphasizing clinical interviews.
• Improved methodology is needed for accurate PGD prevalence estimation and reporting.