The removal of the bereavement exclusion in the diagnosis of major depression is still a controversial subject that has received divergent opinions. On one hand, critics have argued that the removal of the bereavement exclusion may lead to diagnosis of ordinary grief as a disease thereby encouraging the over prescription of antidepressants. In DSM-IV, clinicians refrained from diagnosing major depression in individuals within the initial two months after the death of a loved one. On the other hand, supporters of DSM-5 argue that there exists no scientific basis that outlines the exclusion of patients from diagnosis of a major depression after the death of a loved one. Bereavement related grief and major depression are distinct and distinguishable, however, they share some features such as intense sadness and withdrawal from customary activities.
The removal of bereavement exclusion in DSM-5 was due to lack of adequately controlled clinical studies that’s shows that major depressive syndromes following bereavement differ in nature or … To continue reading, click on the purchase button below.