Citation

Han H, Yun JA, Huh HJ, Huh S, Hwang J, Joo JY, Yoon YA, Shin EG, Choi WJ, Lee S, Chae JH. J. Korean Med. Sci. 2019; 34(28): e194.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. alberto@catholic.ac.kr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Korean Academy of Medical Science)

DOI

10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e194

PMID

31327179

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether severity and severity change of coexisting psychiatric symptoms might affect change of complicated grief (CG) regarding the Sewol ferry disaster.

METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional survey were obtained 18 months (Time 1) and 30 months (Time 2) after the disaster. We ascertained sociodemographic variables and variables obtained from self-reporting questionnaires (i.e., CG, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], insomnia, embitterment, and suicidal risk) among 56 bereaved family members.

RESULTS: Severity of other psychiatric symptoms at Time 1 had no effect on change of CG at Time 2. However, changes in severity of PTSD over a year affected change of CG.

CONCLUSION: It is important to evaluate changes in severity of PTSD and its treatment during management of CG, especially when it involves bereaved families experiencing a traumatic accident.

© 2019 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

Bereavement; Disasters; Grief; Traumatic Loss