THE IMPACT OF COMPLICATED GRIEF ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE BEREAVEMENT PROCESS
Abstract
The purpose of this cohort sequential study was to determine whether the presence of complicated grief (CG) measured at various points in the spousal bereavement process is associated with an increase in mental and physical health problems 18 months later. One hundred twelve participants provided data at four points in time. CG was measured with the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), and mental health was measured with the Integra Outpatient Tracking Assessment, Mental Health Index (MHI), and illnesses by self-report. Twenty-nine participants were identified as experiencing CG. Beginning at 6 months after the death, MHI scores were significantly lower for the CG group and those results were persistent. The CG group experienced more additional life stressors, perceived less social support, and achieved less clinically significant change in MHI than the NCG group. Identification of CG at any point at 6 months or later in bereavement indicates a need for professional intervention. Implications for establishing CG as a DSM diagnosis are discussed.
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Permanent social loss can be traumatic and cause deterioration of physical health and susceptibility to depression.
“This permanent social loss can be traumatic and cause both deterioration of physical health and susceptibility to depression (Prigerson et al 1997; Ott 2003).”
From The behavioral, anatomical and pharmacological parallels between social attachment, love and addiction (2012) · cites this paper as Ott 2003
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- Authors
- OTT, C. H.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (US)
- Corresponding author
- OTT, CAROL H.
- Venue
- Death Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2003-04
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 249-272
- ISSN
- 0748-1187 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-7683
- OpenAlex
- W1995326863
- Cited by
- 221
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 8.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Death Studies (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- complicated grief, death of a spouse, mental health, physical health, life events, social support, Inventory of Complicated Grief, Mental Health Inventory, bereavement interventions
- MeSH terms
- Grief, Health Status, Humans, Mental Health, Social Support, United States, Cohort Studies, Spouses
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