The relationship between bereavement-related guilt and suicide ideation in Turkish bereaved adults.

This study investigates risk factors for suicidal ideation among Turkish bereaved adults, focusing on bereavement-related guilt. Utilizing the Prolonged Grief Scale, Bereavement Guilt Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory's suicide item, 570 bereaved participants were assessed. Suicidal ideation prevalence was found to be 20.2%. Higher rates of low income, single status, and unnatural death, as well as younger ages of the bereaved and deceased, were observed in the suicidal ideation group. Additionally, significantly elevated scores on the Prolonged Grief Scale and Bereavement Guilt Scale subscales were found in this group. After controlling for other risk factors, scores for survivor guilt and perceived responsibility for the death significantly increased the likelihood of belonging to the suicidal ideation group. These findings underscore the critical role of addressing feelings of guilt in psychological interventions aimed at mitigating suicidal ideation among bereaved individuals.

Perinatal grief creates vulnerability to anxiety in subsequent pregnancy: the mediating role of bereavement-related guilt.

AIM: This study examines the associations among perinatal grief symptoms, bereavement-related guilt, and pregnancy-related anxiety in subsequent pregnancy within the framework of a hypothesised mourning model. METHOD: Pregnant women with history of a perinatal loss were recruited using convenience sampling methods and completed a questionnaire set including the Perinatal Grief Scale, Bereavement Guilt Scale, and Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Mediation analysis was performed to evaluate the hypothesised model in a sample of pregnant women with history of a perinatal loss (N = 111). The results indicated that bereavement-related guilt functions as a mediator in the relationship between perinatal grief severity and pregnancy-related anxiety experienced in subsequent pregnancies. CONCLUSION: These findings were evaluated in light of previous studies, providing a bereavement-based perspective on the potential transmission of the mental effects of perinatal loss to subsequent pregnancy.

Validation of the prolonged grief scale (PG-13) and investigation of the prevalence and risk factors of prolonged grief disorder in Turkish bereaved samples.

The aim of this study was to validate the Turkish version of the Prolonged Grief Scale (PG-13) and to determine the prevalence and predictors of prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Data were gathered from two independent samples of 306 (Study 1) and 271 (Study 2) bereaved adults to determine if findings in one sample could be replicated in the other. The results supported the one-factor structure of PG-13. PGD prevalence rates were 11.4% in Study 1 and 10% in Study 2. Lower level meaning reconstruction and unnatural cause of death were found as risk factors for the PGD diagnosis in both studies.

Investigation of the relationship between continuing bonds and adjustment after the death of a first-degree family member by using the Multidimensional Continuing Bonds Scale.

OBJECTIVES: The study aims to develop a continuing bonds scale, investigate the relationship between continuing bonds and adjustment after loss, and test the moderating role of meaning reconstruction in this relationship. METHODS: Data were collected from two different samples of 306 (Study 1) and 271 (Study 2) bereaved adults. RESULTS: The four factors structure of the Multidimensional Continuing Bonds Scale (MCBS) was explored and confirmed. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that continuing bonds showed a significant relationship with prolonged grief symptoms after controlling the risk factors such as gender, age of the deceased, time since loss, and cause of death. Meaning reconstruction moderated the relationship between continuing bonds and prolonged grief symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that the MCBS can be used as a valid and reliable scale to assess the continuing bonds construct. The relationship between continuing bonds and prolonged grief symptoms varies according to the levels of meaning reconstruction.

Examining the Basic Assumption of Psychoanalytic Theory Regarding Normal and Abnormal Grief: Roles of Unfinished Businesses and Bereavement Related Guilt.

To date, several theoretical models have been proposed to explain how the expected and natural grief processes turns into psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of empirical research examining the basic assumption of psychoanalytic theory regarding pre-death conflict and bereavement related guilt. Accordingly, the current study aimed to investigate the mediator role of bereavement related guilt in the relationship between the pre-death conflict and maladaptive grief process. The sample consisted of 447 bereaved adults who lost a loved one due to death in the last 5 years. The Unfinished Business in Bereavement (UBBS), Bereavement Guilt Scale (BGS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale (PG-13) scales were administered. The results indicated that the UBBS scores were positively correlated with both BDI and PG-13 scores, and BGS scores mediated these relationships. Obtained findings were discussed in relation to psychoanalytic theory and existing studies in the grief literature.

Validity and Reliability Study of the Prolonged Grief Disorder- Caregiver Turkish Form. / Uzamis Yas Bozuklugu Ölçegi-Bakim Veren Türkçe Formu'nun Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalismasi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to adapt the Prolonged Grief Disorder - Caregiver Form (PG-12), which is used to measure grief symptoms of caregivers providing care to their relatives with a chronic diseases that cause functional disability to Turkish and to investigate its psychometric properties. We also aimed to investigate the prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in the caregiver sample. METHOD: The sample consisted of 120 adult participants (70.8% female) who acted as caregivers. The participants were administered Prolonged Grief Disorder-Caregiver Form, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Life Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the single-factor structure of PG-12, consistent with the original form, was supported. PG-12 scores showed a positive correlation with depression and caregiver burden scores and a negative correlation with life satisfaction scores. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was 0.85. The prevalence of prolonged grief disorder calculated using PG-12 was found to be 31.66%. CONCLUSION: The results showed that PG-12 is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the grief symptoms of people who provides care for a relative. In addition, the prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in our study population was high. Additional studies are needed in Turkey to confirm this rate and develop new strategies for caregivers.

Validity and Reliability Study of Turkish Forms of the Quality of Relationships Inventory-Bereavement Version and the Bereavement Guilt Scale. / Iliski Niteligi Ölçegi­Yas Versiyonu ile Yas ve Suçluluk Ölçegi Türkçe Formu'nun Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalismalari.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Turkish forms (TR) of the Quality of Relationships Inventory-Bereavement Version (QRI-B) and the Bereavement Guilt Scale (BGS). METHOD: The sample consisted of 447 bereaved adults who lost a loved one due to death at least 6 months ago and within the past 5 years. Participants completed the QRI-B, BGS, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Prolonged Grief Inventory (PG-13), The Grief and Meaning Reconstruction Inventory (GMRI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSS) ve Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS). RESULTS: Results of the explanatory factor analysis showed a good fit between the BGS-TR and the original form of BGS consisting of a 5-factor and 14 items. Besides, the QRI-B-TR showed a similar fit with the original QRI-B consisting of a 2-factor and 13 items, except for item 1. The QRI-B-TR and BGS-TR had positive correlations with the PGI and BDI, and negative correlations with the RSS, LSS, and GMRI-growth subscale. These correlations supported the convergent validity. After controlling for demographic variables, the subscales of the QRI-B-TR and BGS-TR explained 49% of the variance in prolonged grief symptoms. Internal consistency values of the total scale and the subscales for both instruments ranged between 0.70 and 0.94. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study demonstrated that the Turkish versions of the QRI-B-TR and BGS-TR were reliable and valid psychometric tools. Additionally, it was shown that quality of pre-death relation and grief related guilt were strong predictors of prolonged grief symptoms.

The Investigation of Transdiagnostic Role of Obsessive Beliefs: Comparison of Clinical Groups Diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders and Depression with University Students. / Obsesif Inançlarin Tanilar Üstü Rolünün Incelenmesi: Obsesif- Kompulsif Bozukluk, Kaygi Bozukluklari ve Depresyon Tanisi Almis Klinik Gruplarin Üniversite Ögrencileri ile Karsilastirilmasi.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate whether the dysfunctional obsessive beliefs are specific to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using three different clinical groups including OCD, depression, and anxiety and a control group of university students. METHOD: The participants of the study comprised three patient groups with OCD (n=53), major depressive disorder (MDD, n=67), anxiety disorders (AD, n=73), and a group of university students (n=477). The short version of the Obsessive Belief Questionnaire (OBQ-20) was used to measure obsessive beliefs. The Semi-Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV-TR (SCID-I), the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory- Revised Form, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Form were used to assess the severity of the symptoms. RESULTS: The scores of the three patient groups were significantly higher on the OBQ-20 as compared to the university students. It is noteworthy that the OBQ-20 scores did not significantly differ between the three patient groups except on the 'importance of thought' (ICT) subscale showing significantly higher scores in the group with OCD in comparison to the patients with depression and anxiety disorders. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that obsessive beliefs may have a transdiagnostic mechanism with a possible role in the etiology and maintenance of a broad range of different psychopathologies, except in relation to the 'importance and control' of thoughts. Investigating the common processes underlying different psychopathologies is important for the etiological explanation and future treatment of the disorders.

The Examination of the Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Form of Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity.

OBJECTIVE: The Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS) was developed by Abramowitz and his colleagues (2002) to evaluate the severity of scrupulosity symptoms as a dimension of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The aim of the present study was to adapt the PIOS into the Turkish and evaluate its psychometric properties in a university student sample. METHOD: The sample of the present study was composed of 444 undergraduate university students whose age ranged between 18-25 years old. All participants were asked to complete a battery of self-report measures including the PIOS, Beck Depression inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Clark-Beck Obsessive Compulsive Inventory and Penn State Worry Inventory. Following a period of approximately 4 weeks a sub-sample of the participants were asked to complete the questionnaires for the second time. RESULTS: Consistent with the findings of the original study (Abromowitz et al., 2002), explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the two-dimensional structure of the Turkish version of the PIOS. However, distribution of the items on the two factors showed some cultural differences that might be specific to our culture. The results revealed acceptable test-retest and internal consistency coefficients, and also good construct, convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity information for the Turkish version of the PIOS, which can be utilized in the Turkish culture in order to evaluate individual differences in terms of scrupulosity symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicated a good reliability and validity information for the Turkish version of the PIOS, supporting the cross-cultural nature of the scale.