Boelen, P. A., Reijntjes, A.H.A., Djelantik, A. A. A. M. J., & Smid, G.E. (2016). Prolonged grief and depression after unnatural loss: Latent class analyses and cognitive correlates. Psychiatry Research, 240, 358-363.

Abstract

This studysoughttoidentify(a)subgroupsamongpeopleconfrontedwithunnatural/violentloss characterizedbydifferentsymptomsprofiles ofprolongedgriefdisorder(PGD)anddepression,and (b) socio-demographic,loss-related,andcognitivevariablesassociatedwithsubgroupmembership.We used datafrom245individualsconfrontedwiththedeathofalovedoneduetoanaccident(47.3%), suicide (49%)orhomicide(3.7%).Latentclassanalysisrevealedthreeclassesofparticipants:aresilient- class (25.3%),apredominantlyPGD-class(39.2%),andacombinedPGD/Depression-class(35.5%).Mem- bership intheresilient-classwaspredictedbylongertimesincelossandlowerage;membershipinthe combined classwaspredictedbylowereducation.Endorsementofnegativecognitionsabouttheself, life, thefuture,andone'sowngrief-reactionswaslowestintheResilient-class,intermediateinthePGD- class, andhighestinthecombinedPGD/Depression-class.Whenallsocio-demographic,loss-related,and cognitivevariableswereincludedinmultinomialregressionanalysespredictingclass-membership,it wasfoundthatnegativecognitionsaboutone'sgriefwastheonlyvariablepredictingmembershipofthe PGD-class. Negativecognitionsabouttheself,life,andgriefpredictedmembershipofthecombinedPGD/ Depression-class. These findings providevaluableinformationforthedevelopmentofinterventionsfor different subgroupsofbereavedindividualsconfrontedwithunnatural/violentloss.