OBJECTIVE: This study sought to confirm in an independent, nonclinical
study group previous work which demonstrated that the symptoms of
complicated 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). Complicated grief
was measured with a modified version of the Grief Measurement Scale.
Principal axis factoring was used to determine the distinctiveness of
complicated grief, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: The principal 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 results confirmed the
authors' previous findings demonstrating the distinction between symptoms
of complicated grief and symptoms of bereavement-related depression and
anxiety.
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