Digital Detection of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) in Vietnamese Bereaved: Protocol for an Experience Sampling Study
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Purpose
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), recently included in the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11, involves a strong yearning for the deceased, fixation on death, denial, avoidance, negative emotions, and disengagement from daily life, lasting at least six months. However, most studies focus on Western settings, leading to underdiagnosis, inadequate care, and a growing mental health burden in Viet Nam.
Design
Experience sampling method (ESM) can provide detailed, real-time data on daily symptoms due to the wave-like nature of grief and its psychological sequelae. 100 Vietnamese bereaved individuals who lost a loved one in the last 6 months will complete a 2-week ESM assessment app (mPath) every 3 months for 6 months. The app sends daily reminders to complete a questionnaire about PGD symptoms and daily life context. Participants will complete a baseline mental health assessment before each ESM period.
Findings
Data collection for ESM assessments began in June 2025 and will end in December 2025. As of September 2025, 91 participants have been enrolled. A mix of longitudinal and fine-grained data will reveal daily fluctuations and chronicity of PGD symptoms, identify prodromal symptoms predicting onset and severity, unique core symptoms to the Vietnamese bereaved, and factors predicting onset.
Originality
This study will be the first to not only digitally screen for mental health distress in Viet Nam, but also the first to study the newly defined condition PGD in Viet Nam.
