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Risk Factors for Complicated Grief

Grief and the ensuing emotions can surprise even the most emotionally stable person. According to Harvard Medical School, up to 50 percent of those who lose a spouse experience symptoms of major depression within the months following the death and may even hallucinate. If grief symptoms remain unresolved and interfere with daily activities, the condition has developed into complicated grief. The features appear similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Medical personnel have identified several risk factors for complicated grief.

  1. Manner of Death

    • The manner of death brings with it a heightened risk for complicated grief. In the case of suicide, the loved one may feel responsible and carry the accompanying burden of guilt and shame. Sudden or violent death also carries additional risks. The loved one feels unprepared, and unresolved relationship issues with the deceased person enhance the risk of complications.

    Emotional Void

    • Complicated grief risks also increase if the bereaved does not have strong friendships or a solid support system, such as a church or close family and friends. Further complications may ensue if the bereaved deals with a general lack of resilience or capability to adapt to life changes.

    Childhood Trauma

    • The presence of childhood trauma, including neglect or abuse, further subjects a person to risks for complicated grief. Parents or others who should have been caregivers failed the individual at impressionable ages, which impacts the person's later ability to cope with grief.

    Mental Illness

    • Individuals with a history of mental illness may have poor coping skills which do not prepare them to cope with death or loss. Specific mental illnesses can include personality disorders, depression or anxiety disorders, and these may also increase the risk for the development of PTSD after any type of traumatic experience.

    Closeness of Relationship

    • The closer the relationship of the bereaved person to the deceased person, the higher the risk for complicated grief. Examples include spouses, parents or children, siblings or very close friendships. A dependent relationship, such as a child or adult caregiver, also might complicate the grief process.

    Number of Children

    • In the case of parental loss of a child, the risk for complicated grief increases with the fewer surviving children who remain. In other words, the risk for complicated grief is the highest for parents who suffer the death of an only child.

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