Separation anxiety disorder (SEPAD) is highly prevalent among patients with complicated grief (CG) and is associated with greater symptom severity and impairment, as well as greater comorbidity with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD), a recent study found. Researchers evaluated 151 adults with CG enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of Complicated Grief Treatment to that of Interpersonal Therapy. They found:

• 104 (68.9%) individuals with CG were considered to have SEPAD.
• Individuals with SEPAD were more likely to have reported a CG related to the loss of a close relative or friend (other than a parent, spouse/partner, or child), as well as greater scores on the Inventory of Complicated Grief, Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire, Grief Related Avoidance Questionnaire, intrusion and avoidance Impact of Events Scale subscales, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Work and Social Adjustment Scale.
• People with SEPAD had higher rates of lifetime PTSD and PD.