The American Psychiatric Association will add prolonged grief disorder (PGD) to the newest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the primary resource among providers for diagnosing mental health issues. Emotional distress after a significant loss is common for most people, but individuals with PGD experience ongoing, debilitating grief that doesn't go away. Like many mental health issues, PGD can impact physical health as well, and is linked to increased risk for cancer, hypertension and other medical problems. Treatment for this "complicated grief" typically starts with psychotherapy, according to Yahoo News.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.