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Psychiatric Quarterly
Published in: Psychiatric Quarterly 1/2012

01-03-2012 | Original Paper

Prevalence and Comorbidity of Prolonged Grief Disorder in a Sample of Caregivers of Patients in a Vegetative State

Authors: Chiara Guarnerio, Antonio Prunas, Irene Della Fontana, Paola Chiambretto

Published in: Psychiatric Quarterly | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Previous studies have shown that Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and major depression are autonomous nosological entities. The present study aims at further analyzing the relationship among them in a sample of caregivers of patients in Vegetative State (VS) or Minimally Conscious State (MCS). We also investigated factors predicting the development of PGD. We sampled 40 Caregivers of patients in VS or MCS consecutively admitted to long-term care units. Caregivers were administered the PG-12, the Depression Questionnaire, the SCID I and the Davidson Trauma Scale. Six participants (15%) fulfilled the criteria for PGD, 25% (N = 10) for depression and 25% (N = 10) for PTSD. Although significant correlations emerged among symptom domains of the three disorders, no relevant association was found between a diagnosis of PGD, depression and PTSD. The severity of PTSD symptoms was found to be predictive of PGD. Clinical implications are discussed.
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Metadata
Title
Prevalence and Comorbidity of Prolonged Grief Disorder in a Sample of Caregivers of Patients in a Vegetative State
Authors
Chiara Guarnerio
Antonio Prunas
Irene Della Fontana
Paola Chiambretto
Publication date
01-03-2012
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Psychiatric Quarterly / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 0033-2720
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6709
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-011-9183-1

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