Major Depression Associated With Widowhood

Abstract

The authors look at the frequency of depressive symptoms and syndromes associated with spousal bereavement in late life and assess both the course and associated morbidity of those syndromes over a 2-year period. The prevalence of major depressive syndromes ranges from 24% 2 months after the spouse's death to 14% at 25 months. Major depression was associated with poor role functioning, interpersonal difficulties, poor medical health, and increased medical treatment. Risk factors for continuing major depression 25 months after the death of a spouse include, in descending order of importance, early post-bereavement depressive syndromes, intensity of early depressive symptoms, family history of depression, alcohol consumption, medical health, and suddenness of the death.