Extending the Bereavement Exclusion for Major Depression to Other Losses

Context

Symptoms of intense bereavement-related sadness may resemble those of major depressive disorder (MDD) but may not indicate a mental disorder. To avert false-positive diagnoses,DSMcriteria for MDD exclude uncomplicated bereavement of brief duration and modest severity. However, theDSMdoes not similarly exempt depressive reactions to other losses, even when they are uncomplicated in duration and severity....