Prolonged Grief Linked to Increased Long-Term Health Risks, Study Finds

Prolonged Grief Linked to Increased Long-Term Health Risks, Study Finds
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A new study has found that individuals experiencing intense, prolonged grief face significantly higher long-term health risks, including increased mortality and elevated use of mental health services.

Researchers observed that participants with consistently high levels of grief symptoms over time—referred to as following a “high grief trajectory”—had an 88% higher risk of death within 10 years compared to those with lower grief levels.

These individuals were also far more likely to seek mental health support in the years following bereavement, with a 186% higher likelihood of receiving therapy, 463% increased odds of being prescribed antidepressants, and a 160% rise in prescriptions for sedatives or anxiety medications. While the differences in healthcare usage between grief trajectories declined after eight years, elevated mortality risk among those in the high grief group persisted throughout the decade-long study.

Although the exact cause of the increased mortality remains unclear, researchers noted potential links to cardiovascular issues, mental illness, and suicide. Pre-bereavement use of psychiatric medications and lower education levels were also more common in the high grief group, suggesting underlying mental health vulnerabilities.

The study’s authors recommend that general practitioners monitor patients with prior mental health concerns closely after bereavement and consider early psychological interventions.