Grief in the DSM-5: The Most Recent Diagnostic Guidelines

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Christina Zampitella, PsyD, FT Related seminars and products

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Christina Zampitella, PsyD, FT, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Fellow of Thanatology through the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). She is the founder and owner of The Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy, co-owner and Director of Clinical Services at Integrative Psychology Group, and a professional speaker. She teaches in undergraduate and graduate level psychology programs for several universities, focusing her courses and publications on death, loss, grief, and trauma. She served as the chair for the Continuing Education Committee for the San Diego Psychological Association from 2007-2009 and the Delaware Psychological Association from 2018-1019. Dr. Zampitella specializes in death, loss, bereavement, integrative psychology, and nature-based therapy. She is the former resident psychologist on Fox 5 News in San Diego and often appeared on NBC News in California and Philadelphia. She has been featured in Elle magazine, BuzzFeed, Washington Post, and The Huffington Post.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Christina Zampitella is the owner of The Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy and has an employment relationship with Goldey-Beacom College and National University. She receives compensation as a presenter. Christina Zampitella is the founder and host of Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Christina Zampitella serves on the advisory committee for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, is on the exam writing committee for the Association for Death Education and Counseling and is an advisory board member for the National University Integrative Psychology Program. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Delaware Psychological Association, and the American Federation for Suicide Prevention.

Objectives

1. Investigate the history of how bereavement has been addressed in previous Diagnostic and Statistics Manuals (DSM).
2. Evaluate why the bereavement exclusion was removed from the diagnosis of major depressive disorder in the DSM-5.
3. Apply diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5 to diagnose uncomplicated and complicated bereavement.
4. Analyze the diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder and characterize how it relates to clinical practice.

Outline

• History of how bereavement has been addressed
• Why changes were needed

• Prolonged grief disorder
• Diagnostic criteria

• Elimination of the bereavement exclusion criterion for major depressive disorder
• Research regarding complicated grief
• Persistent complex bereavement disorder in the DSM-5
• How to diagnose complicated and uncomplicated bereavement using the DSM-5

• Why Prolonged Grief Disorder in the DSM is needed in clinical practice
• Proposed criteria

Target Audience

• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Case Managers
• Addiction Counsellors
• Counselors
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Social Workers
• Nursing Home Administrators
• Pastoral Counsellors
• Chaplains/Clergy
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
• Mental Health Nurses
• Thanatologists
• Funeral Directors