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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Matthew Prina
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2019, The Author(s). Purpose: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the association of the prevalence of depression and time since spousal loss in widowed people. Methods: The databases MEDLINE, Embase and PsycInfo were searched (May 2017) for papers reporting on time since spousal loss in widowed people and the prevalence of common mental disorders. A systematic review was conducted according to MOOSE guidelines. Random effects meta-analyses of the prevalence of depression were conducted by intervals of time since spousal loss. Results: The literature search identified 12,982 studies of which 22 were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. Of these, 14 were furthermore eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The summary estimates found in the meta-analysis for the prevalence of depression in the intervals of time since spousal loss were: ≤ 1 month: 38.2% (21.9–55.8%); > 1 month to 3 months: 25.0% (17.3–33.5%); > 3 months to 6 months: 23.1% (18.0–28.7%); > 6 months to 12 months: 19.4% (15.2–24.0%); > 12 months to 18 months: 11.1% (5.3–18.7%); > 18 months to 24 months: 15.2% (12.3–18.2%); > 24 months to 60 months: 10.5% (4.3–18.5%). Conclusion: Widowhood is associated with a high prevalence of depression and the study identifies a population group needing special attention in daily clinical practice. The prevalence is highest in the first month of widowhood, however, continues to be high at least 5 years into widowhood.
Author(s): Kristiansen CB, Kjaer JN, Hjorth P, Andersen K, Prina AM
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Year: 2019
Volume: 54
Issue: 7
Pages: 781-792
Print publication date: 10/07/2019
Online publication date: 18/03/2019
Acceptance date: 25/02/2019
ISSN (print): 0933-7954
ISSN (electronic): 1433-9285
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01680-3
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-019-01680-3
PubMed id: 30887075
