Sequelae of bereavement to six months in a New Zealand sample

Abstract

Bereavement is often an extremely stressful and distressing life event. Considerable evidence suggests that the death of a significant person frequently evokes substantial physical and psychological morbidity in grieving individuals. Further research is needed, for there is a lack of both controlled studies that have employed standardized measures and systematic research on bereavement in New Zealand. Structured interviews and standardized measures were conducted with 22 controls, and with 22 individuals who had lost a first-degree relative (spouse, parent, sibling, child) at 2 and 6 months postdeath. Controls were matched on the basis of sex, age, ethnicity, income, education, and employment, and they were tested within 1 week of their bereaved counterparts for each point in time. Significantly elevated general psychiatric morbidity (General Health Questionnaire 28), physical health problems, mental health problems requiring professional intervention, and dissatisfaction with social support (Brief Social Support Questionnaire) were found among the bereaved subjects at both assessment points. Psychiatric caseness (General Health Questionnaire 28) in the bereaved group was approximately threefold (T1) and twofold (T2) that of the control group. The groups did not differ significantly on sizes of social networks (Brief Social Support Questionnaire), personal and family histories of mental health problems, and personal histories of physical health problems. Within the bereaved group, the majority of subjects reported consistently high levels of posttraumatic stress reactions and caseness for posttraumatic stress disorder (Impact of Event Scale). Grief phenomena (Perinatal Grief Scale) and the intensity of subjective grief reactions did not abate significantly over 6 months. Clinical and theoretical implications of the results were discussed and some recommendations made for future research.