A longitudinal study of PTSD in the elderly bereaved: [corrected] prevalence and predictors

Complicated grief reactions are relatively common following spousal bereavement. Old-age spousal loss qualifies as a possible traumatic stressor; however, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a possible complication of the loss has rarely been explored in this population. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of PTSD in elderly bereaved people across the first 18 months of bereavement. Additionally, risk factors for the prediction of bereavement outcome in relation to four domains of the bereavement process were investigated. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires measuring traumatic stress (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ)), coping style (Coping Style Questionnaire (CSQ)), crisis support (Crisis Support Scale (CSS)), and personality (e.g., NEO-five factor inventory (NEO-FFI)). Elderly bereaved people (N = 296, Mean = 73 years) participated at 2, 6, 13, and 18 months post loss. The comparison group consisted of married elderly people who had experienced at least one significant loss (N = 276, mean = 70 years). The frequency of PTSD within the spousal bereaved group was high (16%) compared to the comparison group (4%) and remained stable across time. Each individual domain included in the current analysis was a predictor of PTSD 18 months post loss. Most predictors remained stable across time. A hierarchical regression analysis of the four domains predicted 49% of the variance, indicating a considerable overlap between the domains. Only one predictor, early posttraumatic distress, remained significant. The results confirm that loss of a spouse in old age is traumatic for some and that the effects of the loss remain over the first 18 months post loss. The results therefore underline the importance of further investigation into PTSD in the elderly bereaved.