Diagnosing Prolonged Grief Disorder: Cultural Challenges to the DSM-5-TR Criteria

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) in 2022. It proposed that after persisting in an acute manner for more than a year, grief becomes pathological. This article explores cultural challenges to the application of the DSM-5-TR in diagnosing PGD and discusses culturally sensitive approaches to addressing grief pathology. We have identified three key dimensions that present cultural challenges to the PGD diagnosis: duration of mourning, intensity of emotions, and anomalous cognitions. While the DSM-5-TR clarifies that PGD symptoms must exceed contextual norms (Criterion E), here we critically assess the relevance and limitations of PGD from a cultural perspective and discuss the role rituals and traditional healing might play in grief interventions.