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yesterday

Persistent Grief Doubles Risk of Death Within Ten Years

The Danish cohort recommends early primary care screening for mental health vulnerabilities to guide tailored bereavement support.

People who experience overwhelming grief are more likely to die in the 10 years after their bereavement than those who don't, new study found.
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Overview

  • The study tracked 1,735 bereaved Danes from 2012 to 2022 using the Prolonged Grief-13 questionnaire and national health registers to link grief responses with long-term outcomes.
  • Researchers classified participants into five distinct grief trajectories based on symptom intensity over the first three years following loss.
  • Individuals on the persistently high-grief trajectory faced an 88% higher hazard rate of death within ten years than those on the low-grief trajectory.
  • High-grief participants accessed 186% more counselling services with prescription odds rising 463% for antidepressants alongside a 160% increase for sedatives more than three years after bereavement.
  • The authors recommend that primary care providers screen for mental health vulnerabilities early in bereavement to guide tailored follow-up or referrals to psychological care.