TY - JOUR
T1 - The grief of mothers after the sudden unexpected death of their infants
AU - Goldstein, Richard D.
AU - Lederman, Ruth I.
AU - Lichtentha, Wendy G.
AU - Morris, Sue E.
AU - Human, Melanie
AU - Elliott, Amy J.
AU - Tobacco, Deb
AU - Angal, Jyoti
AU - Odendaal, Hein
AU - Kinney, Hannah C.
AU - Prigerson, Holly G.
N1 - Funding Information:
FUNDING: Supported in part by the Bode Wolfe Memorial Fund, CJ First Candle, and National Institutes of Health grants U01HD055154, U01HD045935, U01HD055155, U01HD045991, and U01AA016501. Funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2018 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - BACKGROUND: The loss of a child is associated with elevated grief severity, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of postneonatal mortality in the United States. The diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has gained broader acceptance and use. Little is known about PGD in mothers after SIDS. METHODS: Between May 2013 and July 2016, we assessed 49 SIDS-bereaved mothers living in informal settlements near Cape Town, South Africa, and on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and 359 SIDS-bereaved mothers affiliated with SIDS parent-support organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. We examined PGD symptom severity and diagnostic prevalence rates between the samples and other significant grief indicators during the period 2 to 48 months after the deaths of their infants. RESULTS: Extremely high, persistent, and similar rates of PGD were found in both samples at every time interval. The prevalence of PGD was 50.0% in either sample (mean months from loss: 20.5 vs 24.9). Daily, intrusive emotional pain or yearning was found in 68.1% of subjects; yearning was significantly associated with emotional pain (P < .0001). Role confusion and anger were the most prevalent symptoms, reported by the majority at every time interval. Rates of role confusion, anger, and diminished trust in others remained constant. Acceptance was less prevalent than other grief indicators at every interval. CONCLUSIONS: Severe symptoms and heightened risk for PGD was seen in mothers after their infants died of SIDS, with discernible symptom profiles. Given their involvement with families after SIDS, pediatricians may have a unique role in identifying this problem and helping address its consequences.
AB - BACKGROUND: The loss of a child is associated with elevated grief severity, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of postneonatal mortality in the United States. The diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has gained broader acceptance and use. Little is known about PGD in mothers after SIDS. METHODS: Between May 2013 and July 2016, we assessed 49 SIDS-bereaved mothers living in informal settlements near Cape Town, South Africa, and on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and 359 SIDS-bereaved mothers affiliated with SIDS parent-support organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. We examined PGD symptom severity and diagnostic prevalence rates between the samples and other significant grief indicators during the period 2 to 48 months after the deaths of their infants. RESULTS: Extremely high, persistent, and similar rates of PGD were found in both samples at every time interval. The prevalence of PGD was 50.0% in either sample (mean months from loss: 20.5 vs 24.9). Daily, intrusive emotional pain or yearning was found in 68.1% of subjects; yearning was significantly associated with emotional pain (P < .0001). Role confusion and anger were the most prevalent symptoms, reported by the majority at every time interval. Rates of role confusion, anger, and diminished trust in others remained constant. Acceptance was less prevalent than other grief indicators at every interval. CONCLUSIONS: Severe symptoms and heightened risk for PGD was seen in mothers after their infants died of SIDS, with discernible symptom profiles. Given their involvement with families after SIDS, pediatricians may have a unique role in identifying this problem and helping address its consequences.
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U2 - 10.1542/peds.2017-3651
DO - 10.1542/peds.2017-3651
M3 - Article
C2 - 29712764
AN - SCOPUS:85046477560
SN - 0031-4005
VL - 141
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
IS - 5
M1 - e20173651
ER -