Exploring the Multidimensional Aspects of Grief Reactions

Explored multidimensional aspects of early grief in 201 relatives & other close friends of victims. Analysis revealed 4 factors: depressive symptoms, preservation of the lost object; suicidal ideation & decedent-directed anger. The authors suggest that certain features associated mostly with pathological grief may be present in many, if not most, of the general population during bereavement & that pathology may best be determined by measuring the frequency & intensity of these features.