The Association Between Bereavement and Treatment Outcomes in Depressed Older Adult Primary Care Patients

Abstract

Bereavement, defined as the death of someone close, is especially common among older adults. One study found that over 70% of community-dwelling older adults were bereaved in a 30 month period (William et al., 2007). Moreover, about 20% of older adults develop depression after bereavement (Zisook, Paulus, Shuchter, & Judd, 1997; Zisook & Shuchter, 1993). Depression prevalence post-bereavement may also increase based on recent changes in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5).