Understanding the impact of complicated grief on combat related posttraumatic stress disorder, guilt, suicide, and functional impairment in a clinical trial of post-9/11 service members and veterans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Complicated grief (CG) is a bereavement-specific syndrome distinct from but commonly comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While bereavement is common among military personnel (Simon et al., 2018), there is little research on the impact of CG comorbidity on PTSD treatment outcomes.

Methods

To evaluate the impact of comorbid CG on PTSD treatment outcomes we analyzed data from a randomized trial comparing prolonged exposure, sertraline, and their combination in veterans with a primary diagnosis of combat-related PTSD (n = 194). Assessment of PTSD, trauma-related guilt, functional impairment, and suicidal ideation and behavior occurred at baseline and weeks 6, 12, and 24 during the 24-week trial.

Results

CG was associated with lower PTSD treatmen

SUBMITTER: Simon NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7433022 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature