Against Hyponarrating Grief: Incompatible Research and Treatment Interests in the DSM-5

Abstract

The controversial debate on whether to remove the bereavement exclusion from the DSM’s depression criteria has mostly focused on whether depression and grief related distress are in fact distinct. Those who argue for the removal provided scientific evidence for the truth of this claim, while those argue against it suggested that the cited evidence base is slim. Despite heated controversy, the change took place. In this article, I use a different argument to address the problems with this change in the DSM-5. Even if we assume that there is no meaningful difference between the properties of grief-related distress and depression symptoms, diagnosing the grieving individual with depression is not the best therapeutic approach to address their needs.