Grief on pain and quality of life in combat veterans with PTSD

Background: Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) comprises a set of grief symptoms that are often linked to other psychological conditions such as PTSD and depression, may be prevalent in Veterans with combat experience, and may also impact general health. Objective: This study investigated the association between grief and sleep, pain, PTSD, and depression, among Veterans participating in a clinical trial for PCBD treatment. Method: Data from 155 Veterans receiving treatments for PCBD were analysed to explore the association between PCBD and symptoms of sleep pain, PTSD, and depression. Veterans experiencing grief reported symptoms related to physical health, emotional problems, energy, and fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, presence of pain, and general health. PCBD appeared to have a specific association with pain and physical functioning, independent of other variables. Conclusions: This study examined the potential independent association of PCBD on physical and mental health in Veterans with PTSD. PCBD appeared to have a very specific and significant association with pain and physical functioning. In other words, the pain of grief was related to ratings of physical pain. Future research on PCBD should address the potentially bidirectional association with bodily pain, particularly chronic pain, in relation to loss, with specific attention to potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.