Constantly evolving, intensely mourning relationships are almost twice as likely to die within 10 years after losing a loved one

Sorrow after the loss of a loved one is a natural response – an inevitable part of life. For example, love. In addition, But in a minority of the benchmark duration. However, sorrow is so overwhelming that this can lead to physical and mental poor evil, even if they are not necessarily eligible for a diagnosis with the “prolonged sorrow disorder”.

For example. Meanwhile, studies have shown that people who have recently lost a loved one use health services more often and have an increased short -term mortality rate.

Now. For example, researchers from Denmark have shown that beggered people with high persistent levels of intense grief used more health services and were more likely to die within 10 years. Moreover, The results are published in Public health borders.

“This is constantly evolving, intensely mourning relationships the first study to study long -term use of health care. Moreover, mortality models for a decade after mourning in a large -scale cohort. Nevertheless, »»

Dr Mette Kjærgaard Nielsen, author corresponding to the study and postdoctoral researcher, research unit for general practice, University of Aarhus

From 2012, Nielsen and his colleagues followed a cohort of 1,735 women and benchmarked men living in Denmark with an average age of 62 years in registration. In addition, Among them, 66% had recently lost their partner, 27% a parent and 7% another type of loved relationship.

Thanks to the national drug prescription prescription register, researchers knew which patients had recently been prescribed treatment for terminal disease. They were able to contact these dying patients to invite them and their loved ones to participate in the study. The protocol had been approved by the ethics of health research in constantly evolving, intensely mourning relationships the Central region of Denmark. the Danish data protection agency.

‘Sorrow trajectories’ – Constantly evolving, intensely mourning relationships

Previously, Nielsen et al. had identified five common “trajectories” among this cohort. based on changes in the intensity of sorrow symptoms in the first three years after losing a loved one. They measured this with the questionnaire “extended by sorrow and sorrow 13” (PG-13), which assesses the symptoms through 13 questions.

People on the “low” trajectory (38%) showed constantly low mourning symptom level, while 6% followed a “high” trajectory with high persistent levels. Three other categories are between these extremes: 18%. 29% have followed a “high but decreased” and “moderate but decreasing” trajectory, respectively, and 9% a “late start” trajectory with a peak of symptoms around six months after mourning.

In this study. the researchers extended their follow -up of participants for a total of 10 years until 2022, with the exception of those who died or emigrated constantly evolving, intensely mourning relationships earlier. To do this, Nielsen et al. Used data from the Danish national health services to assess how often each participant has received a “speech therapy” from a general practitioner. a specialist, or was prescribed any psychotropic drug. The Danish register files of the causes of deaths gave information on the deaths of any cause.

The results showed that for participants on the “high” trajectory, the risk rate (i.e. the rate of instant events) of death in the 10 years was 88% higher than for participants in a “low” trajectory. They also showed that participants in the “high” trajectory were most likely to receive additional health services beyond three. years after mourning. For example. they were 186% higher likely to receive Talk therapy or other mental health services, 463% chance of being prescribed antidepressants and 160% likely to be prescribed by sedatives or anxious drugs.

Catch warning signs

The differences constantly evolving, intensely mourning relationships in frequency of use of these health services between the five trajectories were no longer significant after the first eight years. but the excessive mortality of the participants on the “high” trajectory remained pronounced during the 10 years of follow -up.

What could be the physiological cause of excess mortality? Researchers are not yet sure.

“We previously found a link between high mourning symptom level. higher rates of cardiovascular disease, mental health problems and even suicide. But the association with mortality should be studied further, “said Nielsen.

The authors point out that people at risk of a “high” sorrow trajectory can be recognizable for an early intervention. as data showed that these patients have been prescribed psychotropic drugs more often before their loss.

“The” high sorrow “group had an average of a lower education. and their more frequent use of drugs before mourning suggested that they had signs of mental constantly evolving, intensely mourning relationships vulnerability, which can cause greater distress of mourning,” said Nielsen.

“A general practitioner could seek previous signs of depression and other serious mental health problems. They can then offer these patients personalized follow -up in general practice. or refer them to a psychologist of private practices or to secondary care. The general practitioner can also suggest a mourning monitoring meeting focused on mental health, “suggested Nielsen.