Diagnostic Parameter, Bereavement

Bereavement (Symptoms)
Individuals present symptoms which are characteristic of a Major Depressive Episode. The bereaved individual typically regards the depressed mood as "normal," although the person may seek professional help for relief of associated symptoms such as insomnia. The duration and expression of "normal" bereavement vary considerably among different cultural groups. The diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder is generally not given unless the symptoms are still present 2 months after the loss. However, the presence of certain symptoms that are not characteristic of a "normal" grief reaction may be helpful in differentiating bereavement from a Major Depressive Episode. These include:

Guilt about things other than actions taken or not taken by the survivor at the time of the death.

Thoughts of death other than the survivor feeling that he or she would be better off dead or should have died with the deceased person.

Morbid preoccupation with worthlessness.

Marked psychomotor retardation.

Prolonged and marked functional impairment.

Hallucinatory experiences other than thinking that he or she hears the voice of, or transiently sees the image of, the deceased person.