The Effects of Exposure to Factors Related to Death in Mental Health

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) and depression and associated factors, especially the effects of exposure to factors related to death. Sample comprised 304 Brazilians bereaved for more than a year. Most participants had lost a first degree relative (67.5%), 83.8% by natural causes. T-tests and logistic regression models were utilized. Violent death, close degree kinship and being present at the moment of death increased the chances of presenting PGD and PTSD. Findings point to the importance of public policies to support bereaved individuals and the need to evaluate primary care interventions.

Keywords:

• Prolonged grief disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• depression

Acknowledgments

We thank the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES) for supporting this stydy. Note: We believe data cannot be fully generalized beyond Brazil considering the particularities of the Brazilian context.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES) under Grant Scholarship.

Notes on contributors

Laura Teixeira Bolaséll

Laura Teixeira Bolaséll Master in Human Cognition from PUCRS and PhD student in the Postgraduation Program in Psychology at PUCRS.

Vitoria Castro da Cruz Oliveira

Vitoria Castro da Cruz Oliveira Graduated in Psychology from PUCRS.

Christian Haag Kristensen

Christian Haag Kristensen Full professor in the Postgraduation Program in Psychology at PUCRS, Director of Postgraduation Studies at the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at PUCRS, Coordinator of the Cognition, Emotion and Behavior Research Group and of the Centre of Studies and Research in Traumatic Stress , both at PUCRS. Member of the Director Board of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS; period 2019–2022).