Prolonged Grief Disorder in Adults Over 65: A Review
Author Information
Author(s): Friedland Hannah, Stripling Ashley, Crocker Jillian
Primary Institution: Nova Southeastern University
Hypothesis
Understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) in adults over 65 is essential due to the impact of COVID-19.
Conclusion
The review highlights the need for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of PGD in older adults, especially in the context of COVID-19.
Supporting Evidence
- PGD prevalence rates in older adults ranged from 0.5% to 21%.
- Risk factors for PGD included preexisting depression and the type of relationship with the deceased.
- The highest incidence rates of PGD were observed following the deaths of partners or children.
- Co-occurring symptoms of PGD included sleep disturbances and lower quality of life.
Takeaway
This study looks at how older people grieve after losing loved ones, especially during COVID-19, and finds that many struggle with prolonged grief.
Methodology
A PRISMA review of English-language journal articles on PGD in older adults from 2013 to 2023 was conducted.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in participant demographics as most were White women from specific community and hospice samples.
Limitations
The review is limited to English-language articles and may not capture all relevant studies.
Participant Demographics
Participants were predominantly White women over 65 years old.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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