COMPLICATED GRIEF AS A DISORDER DISTINCT FROM BEREAVEMENT-RELATED DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY - A REPLICATION STUDY

Objective: This study sought to confirm in an independent, nonclinical study group previous work which demonstrated that the symptoms of com plicated grief were distinct from the symptoms of bereavement-related depression and anxiety. Method: Data used in the analyses were derived from a group of 150 widowed individuals who were interviewed 6 months after their deceased spouses' hospital admission (study entry). Compl icated grief was measured with a modified version of the Grief Measure ment Scale. Principal axis factoring was used to determine the distinc tiveness of complicated grief, depression, and anxiety. Results: The p rincipal axis factoring showed that the symptoms of complicated grief loaded quite highly on the first (complicated grief) factor and loaded very poorly on the anxiety and depression factors. Conclusions: The r esults confirmed the authors' previous findings demonstrating the dist inction between symptoms of complicated grief and symptoms of bereavem ent-related depression and anxiety.