Prevalence of complicated grief in a representative population-based sample

Background cated grief (CG) has been proposed as a distinct diagnostic category in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). However, few epidemiological studies to date have measured CG in the general population. s ence of CG, sociodemographic characteristics, and grief-related factors were examined in a representative population-based survey (N = 2520) through face-to-face contact. The sample included all bereaved subpopulations and all age groups from 14 to 95 years. s nditional prevalence of developing CG after major bereavement was 6.7%; the prevalence of CG in the general sample was 3.7%. Predictors of higher risk for developing CG were female gender, lower income (<€1250/month), older age (> 61 years), having lost a child or a spouse, or cancer as the cause of death. tions mple of bereaved people was small, and some categories contained very few cases. Psychiatric comorbidities were not assessed in this study. sions sults indicate that CG is prevalent in the population, and risk factors were identified.