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Study · Measured the body's own peptide · 2025

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Grief-Related Psychopathology from Complicated Grief to DSM-5-TR Prolonged Grief Disorder: A Systematic Review of Biochemical Findings.

Pedrinelli V, Rimoldi B, Conti L, Bordacchini A, Parrini L, Betti L, Giannaccini G, Dell'Oste V, Carmassi C

International journal of molecular sciences8 Dec 2025

PMID41465265 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC12732754 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/ijms262411835 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41465265
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Summary

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is marked by enduring and disruptive grief symptoms following the death of a significant other. Although PGD has been recognized as a distinct psychopathological entity within the trauma dimension in the DSM-5-TR, its neurobiological underpinnings remain not fully defined. A systematic literature review was conducted up to September 2025 following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science were searched using a comprehensive strategy combining MeSH terms and free-text keywords. Eligible studies included human participants, validated grief assessment tools and biomarker assessments. Out of 2140 initial records, 12 studies published between 1989 and 2022 met inclusion criteria. Investigated neuro-psycho-endocrine systems included the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, catecholamines, oxytocin, endocannabinoids and immune/inflammatory markers. Key findings in pathological grief reactions included altered cortisol rhythms, elevated oxytocin levels, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune system dysregulation. Results are limited by heterogeneity in study designs, small sample sizes, inconsistent use of diagnostic criteria prior to DSM-5-TR and lack of control for psychiatric comorbidities. This review highlights emerging biological correlates of PGD, particularly those involving the stress response, reward-attachment networks and immune/inflammatory pathways. Further standardized, longitudinal research is essential to gain a more defined picture of PGD, to clarify causal mechanisms and to guide targeted therapeutic interventions.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 01HumanEndogenous levelSystematic reviewMechanism

    In people with pathological grief reactions, studies in this systematic review found elevated oxytocin levels.

    In plain wordsIn people with pathological grief, studies found higher levels of the body's own oxytocin.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseOxytocin levels in pathological grief
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Mental health and mood

    Source sentences

    Summary
    elevated oxytocin levels
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Eligible studies included human participants, validated grief assessment tools and biomarker assessments.
    Summary · context
    Out of 2140 initial records, 12 studies published between 1989 and 2022 met inclusion criteria.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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