Prolonged Grief Officially Recognized in the DSM

The American Psychiatric Association has decided to include a new disorder in its list of potential diagnoses. Prolonged grief disorder is the new term for a small group of people who are unable to return to their normal lives after experiencing a loss. Disorders are named, in part, to drive more funding into research for treatments. It also allows doctors to bill insurance companies for treatment associated with the disorder. The addition stirred serious controversy, with some professionals arguing that mourning a loved one is always normal while others suggesting the move makes sense for logistical reasons.