Bereavement anxiety attacks
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Bereavement and Anxiety Attacks: Understanding the Connection
Introduction to Bereavement and Anxiety
Bereavement, the period of mourning after a loss, is a profoundly challenging experience that often triggers intense emotional responses. Among these, anxiety is a common yet frequently overlooked aspect. Anxiety during bereavement can manifest as acute grief, characterized by yearning and longing for the deceased, and can significantly impact one's mental health1.
Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders During Bereavement
Research indicates that anxiety disorders are prevalent among bereaved individuals. A study found that 44% of bereaved spouses reported at least one type of anxiety disorder within the first year of bereavement, with higher rates of panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder compared to the general population2. This suggests that bereavement can significantly elevate the risk of developing anxiety disorders.
Risk Factors for Bereavement-Related Anxiety
Several factors can increase the likelihood of experiencing anxiety during bereavement. A past personal history of anxiety disorders is a significant risk factor2. Additionally, severe grief and depression are closely associated with the onset of anxiety disorders during bereavement2. Other risk factors include being young, female, experiencing a loss of income, lacking social support, and having acute grief or depressive symptoms4.
Complications in the Grieving Process
Anxiety symptoms can complicate the grieving process, leading to prolonged periods of acute grief. This can derail the natural mourning process and potentially result in complicated grief, a condition where the individual experiences persistent and intense grief that disrupts their daily life3 6. The overlap between anxiety disorders and major depression during bereavement further complicates the situation, raising questions about whether these anxiety disorders are prodromal, concomitant, or residual with respect to major depression2.
Impact on Mental and Physical Health
Bereavement-related anxiety can have profound effects on both mental and physical health. Increased vulnerability to physical illness and mortality has been observed during the first two years of bereavement, with men being at higher risk than women6. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common during the initial months of bereavement, and while depressive symptoms are often transient, some individuals may develop major depression6.
Bereavement Support and Intervention
Effective bereavement support can play a crucial role in mitigating anxiety and other psychological symptoms. Meta-analyses have shown that bereavement support significantly reduces grief, depression, and anxiety among adult family caregivers in palliative care settings8. Interventions are more effective when delivered by professionals, in more than six sessions, and within six months of the loss8.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a prevalent and significant issue during bereavement, often complicating the grieving process and impacting overall health. Recognizing and addressing bereavement-related anxiety through targeted support and intervention is essential for helping individuals navigate their grief and reduce the risk of prolonged psychological distress.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Bereavement and Anxiety
Bereavement can trigger acute grief and anxiety, which should be recognized and treated to prevent derailment in the mourning process and prolong acute grief.
Highly CitedAnxiety disorders during acute bereavement: risk and risk factors.
Anxiety disorders are prevalent in bereaved spouses, with past personal history of anxiety disorders as an independent risk factor, and are associated with severe grief and depression.
Observational StudyHighly CitedAnxiety and bereavement.
Anxiety symptoms are prevalent and often severe, lasting at least seven months after bereavement, with vulnerable individuals being young, female, with income loss, low social support, and experiencing acute grief, a depressive syndrome, and anxiety symptoms.
A review of the emotional, psychiatric and behavioural responses to bereavement in people with intellectual disabilities.
Bereavement significantly impacts mental health, behavior, and emotional lives of people with intellectual disabilities, causing increased depression and anxiety, and altered general behavior.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedClinical and biological aspects of bereavement and loss-induced depression: a reappraisal.
Bereavement and loss-induced depression can increase vulnerability to psychiatric and medical illness, with men at higher risk than women, and may lead to complex grief and depression.
Highly CitedBereavement: Course, Consequences, and Care
Bereavement can lead to complicated grief, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance use, requiring effective care and support.
Highly CitedThe Effectiveness of Bereavement Support for Adult Family Caregivers in Palliative Care: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Bereavement support in the palliative care setting effectively reduces grief, depression, and anxiety in adult family caregivers, with group format being more effective for grief and individual format for depression.
Meta-AnalysisHealth outcomes of bereavement
Bereavement is associated with increased mortality risk, decrements in physical health, and various psychological reactions, requiring targeted psychological intervention for high-risk individuals and those with complex grief or bereavement-related depression.
Literature Review
Rigorous JournalHighly CitedDifferential correlates of prolonged grief and depression after bereavement in a population-based sample.
Prolonged grief symptoms are mainly related to the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of the deceased or death, while depression mainly relates to the bereaved person's characteristics.
Observational Study