Prevalence, Correlates, and Psychiatric Burden of Prolonged Grief Disorder in U.S. Military Veterans: Results From a Nationally Representative Study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo examine the point prevalence and correlates of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) in a nationally-representative sample of United States (U.S.) veterans. MethodsData were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative study of 2,441 U.S. veterans. ResultsA total of 158 (weighted 7.3%) veterans screened positive for PGD. The strongest correlates of PGD were adverse childhood experiences, female sex, non-natural causes of death, knowing someone who died from coronavirus disease 2019, and number of close losses. After adjusting for sociodemographic, military, and trauma variables, veterans with PGD were 5-to-9 times more likely to screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. After additional adjustment for current psychiatric and substance use disorders, they were 2–3 times more likely to endorse suicidal thoughts and behaviors. ConclusionsResults underscore the importance of targeting PGD as an independent risk factor for psychiatric disorders and suicide risk.