2025 ICD-10-CM code F43.81
Prolonged grief disorder, also known as complicated grief, is a persistent and intense grief reaction that impairs daily functioning following the death of a loved one.
Medical necessity for treatment of PGD is established when the individual's grief symptoms are significantly impacting their functioning and causing clinically significant distress, exceeding what would be expected in normal bereavement.
Clinicians diagnosing and treating PGD have a responsibility to assess the duration and intensity of grief symptoms, differentiate PGD from normal bereavement or other mental health conditions like major depressive disorder or PTSD, and provide or refer for appropriate interventions such as complicated grief therapy, which often incorporates aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
- 6 (Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Disorders)
- F40-F48 (Anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, somatoform and other nonpsychotic mental disorders)
In simple words: If you've lost someone close to you and find yourself struggling with intense grief that doesn't seem to get better, even after a long time, you might have prolonged grief disorder. This means the sadness and longing are so strong they're making it hard to live your life normally. It’s important to seek professional help if you're experiencing this.
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a mental disorder characterized by persistent and intense grief, exceeding typical bereavement, following the death of a loved one. Symptoms include intense yearning for the deceased, preoccupation with the death, difficulty accepting the loss, emotional numbness, and significant impairment in daily life.These symptoms must persist for at least 6-12 months after the loss (12 months for adults, 6 months for children and adolescents) to meet diagnostic criteria. The DSM-5-TR classifies it as a "trauma and stressor-related disorder."The ICD-11 uses the code 6B42.
Example 1: A 45-year-old individual continues to experience intense yearning and emotional pain two years after the sudden death of their spouse, impacting their ability to work and maintain relationships., A child exhibits persistent preoccupation with the circumstances of a parent's death eight months prior, accompanied by difficulty sleeping, eating, and engaging in school activities., An elderly individual experiences profound emotional numbness and social withdrawal 18 months after the death of a long-term partner, neglecting self-care and expressing a desire to die to be reunited with the deceased.
Documentation should include the duration and severity of grief symptoms, impact on daily functioning, evidence of intense yearning or preoccupation with the deceased, and efforts to differentiate the diagnosis from normal bereavement or other mental health conditions.
- Specialties:Psychiatry, Psychology, Primary Care
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office, Community Mental Health Center, Psychiatric Facility-Partial Hospitalization,Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home, Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home