Grief disorders have recently been included in international diagnostic classifications, including the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-5; (1)] and the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases [ICD-11; (2)]. Specifically, DSM-5 now includes the category “other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder,” with persistent complex bereavement disorder as one of the specific examples, and ICD-11 includes prolonged grief disorder (PGD).

Background: The coronavirus pandemic appears to put psychiatric patients with pre-existing symptomatology at risk of symptom increase, but evidence is scarce. While the pandemic and stringent governmental measures have accelerated the use of clinical videoconferencing (VCT), patient satisfaction with VCT is unclear. 

Objective: Aim of the study was to assess the wellbeing of patients in psychotrauma treatment during the coronavirus pandemic and to evaluate their use of and satisfaction with VCT. 

Late life polyvictimization occurs when an older adult experiences multiple types of abuse, including elder abuse, either simultaneously or sequentially, and impacts roughly 1 in 4 elder abuse cases.

Although the effects of late life polyvictimization can include mental and physical health disorders, some older adults demonstrate post-traumatic growth following trauma both earlier and later in life. However, to date, our understanding of resilience and post-traumatic growth following lifelong trauma and late life polyvictimization has not been systematically explored.

Background: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been described as an independent risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. At the same time, cognitive deterioration and increased loss experiences in dementia may increase liability for the reactivation of traumatic memories and thereby PTSD symptoms.

Objective: In order to investigate co-occurrence of PTSD in dementia this systematic literature review summarizes all the available evidence on reported comorbidity rates of PTSD in patients with dementia.