Grief Cognitions Questionnaire

What it measures

Measures maladaptive cognitions associated with complicated/prolonged grief disorder. Targets negative beliefs about self and life that arise following bereavement. Widely used in CBT research for prolonged grief disorder (PGD) to identify cognitive targets and measure treatment change.

Response format

Likert (0–6, I am absolutely sure this is not true to I am absolutely sure this is true)

Representative items

• I have become a different person since the loss. (Negative Self)
• The world has become a dangerous, unpredictable place. (Negative Life)
• Things will never be good for me again. (Negative Life)
• I am to blame for what happened. (Blaming)
• I feel angry about what happened to me. (Blaming/Bitterness)

Usage notes & scoring

Four subscale scores and a total. Higher scores = greater maladaptive grief cognitions. Freely available from Paul Boelen. Sensitive to change in CBT for prolonged grief disorder. Often paired with the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) as a complementary symptom measure.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Boelen, P.A., Kip, H., Voorsluijs, J., & van den Bout, J. (2003). Irrational beliefs and catastrophic interpretations in pathological grief. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 25(2), 103–111.

Keywords