The sequelae and nonsequelae of conjugal bereavement

The author reviews prospective studies of bereavement, which show that widows and widowerssuffer from significant depressive symptoms in the first year. Young widows and widowers may have more physical distress and take more drugs. There are few changes among older men and women in physical health, visitto physicians, and hospitalizations. Psychiatric consultation and hospitalization are rare and tend to occur early in a bereaveent rather than later. There is probably an increase in mortality only among older widowers in the first years. The death of on's spouse is a psychologically stressful event: however, during the first year men and women cope with the loss with minimal mobidity and mortality.