Which statement best distinguishes prolonged grief disorder from normal grief?

• A. It lasts longer and interferes with functioning.
• B. It is less intense but longer.
• C. It is unrelated to the loss.
• D. It always ends within 2 weeks.

Answer: (A)

Prolonged grief disorder is defined by a persistent, intense grief reaction that lasts well beyond what is culturally expected and that causes clear impairment in daily functioning. The key distinction is not just how strong the distress is, but how long it endures and how it interferes with life. In normal grief, pain and yearning are real but typically lessen over time, and people gradually reconnect with daily activities, relationships, and responsibilities. In prolonged grief disorder, the distress remains prolonged and pervasive, with symptoms like persistent yearning, preoccupation with the deceased, trouble accepting the death, and significant impairment in work, social life, or self-care, all closely tied to the loss. That combination of extended duration and functional disruption is what sets it apart.