Risk for Complicated Grief After the COVID-19 Death of a Marital Partner in Late Life.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
; 32(3): 386-391, 2024 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37968160
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To identify 1) complicated grief symptom clusters among acutely-bereaved older adults who have lost a spouse to COVID-19 and 2) if spousal death due to COVID-19 increased risk of developing probable PGDMETHODS:
Eighty adults participating in a randomized controlled trial for depression prevention (mean age [± SD] = 70.4 [6.6]) completed the Inventory of Complicated Grief, every 3 months over a maximum of 15 months. Twenty-four percent (n = 19) of participants lost a spouse to COVID-19; 76% (n = 61) lost a spouse to other causes of death. Adjusted linear regression examined the associations between COVID-19 bereavement and six symptom clusters yearning and preoccupation, anger and bitterness, shock and disbelief, estrangement from others, hallucinations, and behavior change.RESULTS:
Compared to the non-COVID-19 group, the COVID-19 bereaved group reported greater shock and disbelief, hallucinations of the deceased, and estrangement from others. COVID-19 death was also associated with higher risk for probable prolonged grief disorder (PGD) at 12 months (odds ratio = 4.38, p = 0.027).CONCLUSIONS:
Older adults who have lost a spouse to COVID-19 present with specific symptoms of distress and may eventually require clinical care for PGD.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Aflicción
/
COVID-19
Límite:
Aged
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article