Bereavement has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
The authors monitored a previously unstudied population, parents who had
experienced sudden death of a formerly healthy child, for immunological
changes, plasma cortisol level, and depression. Nine bereaved parents were
matched case-for-case with nonbereaved controls and concurrently monitored
2, 4, 6, and 8 months post-bereavement. The bereaved parents showed
significantly decreased T-suppressor cells, significantly increased
T-helper cells, and depression compared with controls, but no difference in
cortisol levels. The bereaved also showed nonsignificant but elevated
blastogenesis in mitogen-stimulated cells. These changes persisted
throughout the first 8 months of bereavement.Abstract Teaser