Effect of Bereavement on the Health of the Remaining Family Members

Van Eijk J, Smits A, Huygen F and van den Hoogen H. Effect ofbereavement on the health of the remaining family members. FamilyPractice 1988; 5: 278–282. This investigation focusses on the effect of the death of afamily member on the number and type of diagnosed illnessesof the remaining members. The data on mortality and morbiditywere obtained from a continuous morbidity register. A totalof 225 cases of death were selected, involving 313 family members.A control group of 4909 people who had not been confronted witha death of a family member were selected. A comparison of morbidityrates for the two groups showed that morbidity rates, both forminor and serious illnesses, were affected by the death of afamily member. Increases in minor illnesses occurred more oftenwhen people had been confronted with death after a chronic illness;increases in serious illnesses were mainly found among peopleconfronted with sudden death. Surprisingly, people with nervousdisorders in their medical history showed fewer diagnoses forminor illnesses after a sudden death of a family member. Anexplanation may be found in the basic principles of family medicine.