Differentiating risk and maintaining factors of posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief in the aftermath of death: A longitudinal study on traumatic loss.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic losses can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prolonged grief disorder (PGD). This study is the first to examine both constructs longitudinally immediately following traumatic losses, focusing on risk and maintaining factors. METHOD: = 42). Participants were recruited by psychosocial crisis intervention teams. Variables assessed included sociodemographic and loss-related characteristics, PTSD, PGD, depression, generalized anxiety, life satisfaction, posttraumatic cognitions, social acknowledgment, and self-disclosure. Linear regression analyses identified common and specific predictors for symptom severity of PTSD and PGD at Time Points 1 and 2. Cross-lagged regression analyses investigated longitudinal associations between PTSD and PGD. Maintaining factors and comorbidities of PTSD and PGD symptomatology were explored at Time Point 2. RESULTS: Participants were significantly impacted by violent or sudden death circumstances, close relationships with the deceased, and high exposure levels. Dissociation predicted immediate and long-term PTSD symptom severity. A close relationship with the deceased was a distinct risk factor for PGD symptoms in the short and long term. Posttraumatic cognitions and generalized anxiety were maintaining factors for both disorders. Findings do not support a bidirectional longitudinal relationship between PTSD and PGD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with previous literature and, for the first time, extend these findings to the immediate aftermath of a loss. Dissociation and the relationship to the deceased should be considered in future research and practice regarding early screening, triage, and intervention, as well as posttraumatic cognitions for transdiagnostic treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).