Prolonged grief disorder more common in Covid lockdown bereaved, study finds

Social isolation and loneliness in early bereavement found to strongly contribute to worse symptoms

People bereaved during the first two waves of the Covid pandemic are three times more likely to be suffering from prolonged grief disorder (PGD), which can leave them in intense emotional pain and lonely, research from Cardiff and Bristol universities has revealed.

The disorder, also known as complicated grief, can result in persistent longing for the deceased, intense emotional pain including guilt and denial, and trouble engaging with friends and planning for the future, all of which goes on for longer than six months.