Initial Validation of a Measure Assessing DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 Prolonged Grief in Children and Adolescents

Abstract Valid and reliable instruments to assess the most recent prolonged grief disorder (PGD) criteria, as defined in the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11, are lacking. This study aimed to provide an initial validation of the Traumatic Grief Inventory—Kids—Clinician-Administered (TGI-K-CA) for assessing Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) symptoms in bereaved children and adolescents according to DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria. Ninety bereaved Dutch children (aged 8–18 years, M age = 13.5, 61.1% female) participated. Bayesian confirmatory factor analyses and Bayesian correlational analyses were conducted to assess factor structure, temporal stability, and convergent and incremental validity. Prevalence rates and optimal cut-off scores of PGD caseness were determined. Findings regarding the psychometric properties were mixed. Neither a one-factor nor a two-factor model accurately represented the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11 PGD symptoms. Items related to disbelief and avoidance showed low factor loadings. Temporal stability over three months was weak. The TGI-K-CA showed convergent validity with other measures of depression, PTSD, quality of life and functional impairment. Prevalence rates for DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 PGD were both 7.8%. Optimal cut-off points for probable DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 PGD were ≥ 45 and ≥ 53 on the TGI-K-CA, respectively. Despite limitations such as small sample size and convenience sampling leading to possible biases, the TGI-K-CA appears to capture aspects of PGD symptoms in children. The TGI-K-CA facilitates research on screening tools for PGD and on DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 PGD criteria in children. Future studies should be conducted in larger and more diverse samples.