Immune variables, depression, and plasma cortisol over time in suddenly bereaved parents

Abstract

Bereavement has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The authors monitored a previously unstudied population, parents who had experienced sudden death of a formerly healthy child, for immunological changes, plasma cortisol level, and depression. Nine bereaved parents were matched case-for-case with nonbereaved controls and concurrently monitored 2, 4, 6, and 8 months post-bereavement. The bereaved parents showed significantly decreased T-suppressor cells, significantly increased T-helper cells, and depression compared with controls, but no difference in cortisol levels. The bereaved also showed nonsignificant but elevated blastogenesis in mitogen-stimulated cells. These changes persisted throughout the first 8 months of bereavement.