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The National Archive of Grief Support Studies

The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.

Confirming the Distinctiveness of Complicated Grief from Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents

Authors:
Dillen, Let
Fontaine, Johnny R. J.
Verhofstadt-Deneve, Leni

Source:
Death Studies: 2009, 33(5), pp. 437-461.

Summary

This article summarizes the results of two studies designed to determine if adolescents experience complicated grief (CG) as a form of distress that is distinct from depression and anxiety. The first study was conducted with 245 adolescents who had experienced the death of a grandparent.  Three self-report instruments, the Traumatic Grief Inventory for Children (TGIC), the Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI-Y), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory for Youth (BAI-Y), were used to measure maladaptive grief symptoms, depression symptoms, and anxiety symptoms.  The second study was conducted with 351 adolescents who had experienced the death of a significant person, such as a sibling or parent. The Inventory of Complicated Grief-Youngsters (ICG-Y) was used to measure grief, the BDI-Y for depression, and the BAI-Y for anxiety.  Results from both studies indicate that adolescents experience CG as a form of distress that is distinct from depression and anxiety. The authors state that the findings are similar to those found in adult populations.

Key Words: complicated, depression, anxiety, TRIC, adolescent, Prolonged Grief Disorder

Service Provider Implications

Service providers may benefit from understanding that among adolescents, complicated grief is a form of distress that is distinct from depression and anxiety. Familiarity with the ICG-Y will be useful given the likelihood that Prolonged Grief Disorder will be a new diagnostic category in the DSM-V.