How is a Grief Reaction diagnosed?
A grief reaction is diagnosed on the basis of depressive symptoms temporally related to loss of a family member, friend or loved one. Symptoms of a grief reaction, unlike bereavement which is self-limited, last beyond a few months after the death. While bereavement involves coping skills and ultimately resolves with time, a grief reaction becomes prolonged, and may be associated with complicating factors such as substance abuse or self-medication.
