The Aarhus Bereavement Study

NCT03049007 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: AU2017
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 1,243
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Psychological distress is a natural reaction following the death of a loved one. Nevertheless, research has shown that for a significant minority of bereaved individuals the grieving process is disturbed. These individuals experience an intense grief reaction that persists across time characterized by longing for the deceased or persistent preoccupation with the deceased. It has been suggested that this intense, persistent grief reaction meets criteria to be considered a distinct mental disorder. Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has been proposed to capture this condition and will be included in the forthcoming ICD-11. The proposed project aims to prepare healthcare services to use the diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) by determining the frequency of PDG in a population sample of bereaved spouses and their adult children. It will also identify early predictors of PGD and trajectories of natural and prolonged grief as well as investigate the specificity of PGD in relation to other common loss-related reactions. Thus, the project will provide a prognostic tool to identify individuals with high versus low risk of developing PGD.

Conditions

Grief

Keywords

bereavement; natural grief; prolonged grief; complicated grief

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Prolonged grief

  Changes in prolonged grief symptoms measured using the Prolonged Grief Disorder-13 (PG-13; Prigerson et al., 2009)

  2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months post-loss

• Complicated grief

  Changes in complicated grief symptoms measured using the Inventory of Complicated Grief Revised (ICG-R; Prigerson \& Jacobs, 2001)

  2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months post-loss

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Depression

  2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months post-loss

• Generalized anxiety

  2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months post-loss

• Post-traumatic stress

  2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months post-loss

• Well-being

  2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months post-loss

• Mental and physical health

  2, 18, and 26 months post-loss

Other Outcomes (9)

• Loneliness

  2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months post-loss

• Rumination

  2, 6, and 11 months post-loss

• Social support

  2, 6, and 11 months post-loss

Study Arms (2)

Partner

Spousal bereaved individuals (age 25-85) in the Central Denmark Region identified through a data extraction of the Danish Civil Registration System (CPR) every sixth week over a period of one year. The group will complete a survey at respectively 2 (T1), 6 (T2), 11 (T3), 18 (T4), and 26 (T5) months post-loss as well as 3, 4, 5 and 6 years post loss.

Diagnostic Test: Survey

Child

Parental bereaved individuals (age 18 or above) that are children of the partner group. The group will complete a survey at respectively 2 (T1), 6 (T2), 11 (T3), 18 (T4), and 26 (T5) as well as 3, 4, 5 and 6 years post loss.

Diagnostic Test: Survey

Interventions

Survey DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Completion of surveys with diagnostic measurements (e.g., PGD, depression, anxiety, PTSD).

Child; Partner

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Spousal bereaved individuals (age 25-85) living in the Central Denmark Region plus their adult children (age 18 or above). Eligible participants will be identified through a data extraction of the Danish Civil Registration System (CPR) every sixth week over a period of one year.

You may qualify if:

• Resident in the following municipalities: Aarhus, Favrskov, Horsens, Norddjurs, Odder, Randers, Silkeborg, Skanderborg, Syddjurs
• Age 25-85
• Resident in the following municipalities: Aarhus, Favrskov, Horsens, Norddjurs, Odder, Randers, Silkeborg, Skanderborg, Syddjurs
• Age 18-85

You may not qualify if:

• \- Psychiatric inpatients

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Aarhus: lead

Study Sites (1)

Aarhus University, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Unit for Bereavement Research

Aarhus, DK-8000, Denmark

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Komischke-Konnerup KB, Vang ML, Lundorff M, Elklit A, O'Connor M. Do early symptoms of prolonged grief disorder lead to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression? A longitudinal register-based study of the two first years of bereavement. J Psychopathol Clin Sci. 2023 Nov;132(8):996-1006. doi: 10.1037/abn0000859. Epub 2023 Aug 3.

  PMID: 37535580 DERIVED

Related Links

• Webpage with information on the research unit conduction the study

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Fertility

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Reproductive Physiological Phenomena; Reproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Maja O'Connor, MSc PhD

  University of Aarhus

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2017
• First Posted: February 9, 2017
• Study Start: February 7, 2017
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2030
• Last Updated: August 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

DK (1)