Citation

Klyce DW, Bombardier CH, Davis TJ, Hartoonian N, Hoffman JM, Fann JR, Kalpakjian CZ. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2015; 96(8): 1419-1425.

Affiliation

University of Michigan School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apmr.2015.02.018

PMID

25748144

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether grief is a psychometrically sound construct that is distinct from depression among individuals who have recently sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation units at three geographically diverse, university-affiliated medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 206 patients with SCI were recruited-79.1% male (n=163). The majority of patients were non-Hispanic Whites (n=175, 85.0%). The majority of patients sustained a cervical SCI (n=134, 64.4%). A variety of injury etiologies were represented, with the majority being accounted for by falls (n=72, 31.5%) and vehicle-related injuries (n=69, 33.5%). The mean time since injury was 53.5 days (SD = 40.5). INTERVENTIONS: Not Applicable MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): An adapted version of the 12-item interview for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) was used to assess symptoms of grief, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to measure depression. Demographic and injury-related data were also collected.

RESULTS: A principal components analysis (PCA; Direct Oblimin rotation) of the grief measure suggested a 2-component solution. The content of items loading on the separate components suggested two subscales: loss (6 items, α=.810) and trauma (6 items, α=.823). Follow-up PCAs including both the grief and depression measures suggested clear differentiation of grief-related loss from depression. The prevalence of clinically significant levels of grief was low (6%) and levels of depression were consistent with prior findings related to inpatient rehabilitation (23.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: The items used to assess grief symptoms among patients participating in inpatient rehabilitation for recently sustained SCI appear to capture a psychometrically reliable construct that is distinct from depression. Research is needed on the course and predictive validity of early grief symptoms.

Language: en