2023-10-11 01:00:25
What is Prolonged Grief Disorder (PDD)?
Following the death of a loved one, a significant minority of adults experience such grief that their daily life remains altered over a long period of time. It is this condition that constitutes prolonged bereavement disorder (PDD). This can be differentiated from normal mourning because of its duration and intensity. People with this disorder have difficulty recovering, which can affect their ability to function normally in their daily lives. This pain can persist for months or even years.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of PMDD?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on the way grief is experienced. Indeed, the unpredictable and sudden nature of the illness has often deprived loved ones of any possibility of saying goodbye to the deceased. As a result, many people were unable to go to hospital or saw their actions limited by protective equipment. Final goodbyes and mutual comfort were significantly limited. For many, it was not possible to attend funerals, traditional rituals were hindered, and social support was not available but limited or distant (by telephone or email).
Estimates conservatively suggest that 10% of people who lose a loved one to natural causes develop PMDD. This figure is undoubtedly even exceeded because recent studies have shown that the intensity of acute grief in people affected by losses linked to COVID-19 was greater than the intensity of grief in the case of a non-illness. linked to the pandemic. This percentage, compared to the number of deaths due to the pandemic (more than 230,000 in April 2023, in France alone, according to data from Santé Publique France), suggests tens of thousands of additional cases of PMDD which should appear in the coming months and/or years.
What are the recommendations to take into account the resurgence of TDPs?
As healthcare services risk finding themselves overwhelmed by the number of PMDD cases, it seems essential to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public of the seriousness of the situation. Healthcare professionals should be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of PMDD and be able to provide effective interventions. Efforts should focus on the elderly, who constitute the population for whom the pandemic has had the greatest impact, and children/adolescents facing the loss of a loved one during the pandemic.
When should Prolonged Grief Disorder (PMD) be treated?
Early treatment can help prevent chronicity of pain and improve the quality of life of those affected, patients should also be encouraged not to be alone and to seek help. The standard treatment at the moment is an individual therapy in 16 sessions which has recently become available in France. Finally, the search for suitable medications should be encouraged because, to date, pharmacotherapy remains insufficient while there are many avenues to exploreparticularly to target comorbidities such as depression, in combination with psychotherapy or for people who do not respond well to psychological interventions.
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