Catecholamine predictors of complicated grief treatment outcomes

O’Connor, Mary Frances; Shear, M. Katherine; Fox, Rachel; Skritskaya, Natalia; Campbell, Bevin; Ghesquiere, Angela; Glickman, Kim

doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.09.014

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The available studies on the effects of these interventions found the intervention to reduce cortisol levels 94,95 . Furthermore, epinephrine levels predicted psychopathology‐related treatment outcomes suggesting that pre‐treatment stress levels moderated the effectiveness of the intervention 95 . In line with this, catecholamines were correlated with helplessness and hopelessness in the course of bereavement, 87 and thus can serve as endocrine markers of subjective burden and treatment effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…The post‐treatment ICG‐score was significantly predicted by pre‐treatment epinephrine levels. SAM activity and autonomous function in the participants showed impaired CG outcomes after therapy 95 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The final sample consisted of 26 articles published between 1986 and 2019. According to the Quality assessment ratings, five studies showed good quality, 77‐81 whereas 21 studies showed fair quality 82‐102 . The results are shown in Table 1.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…HIV + men in the intervention group showed significant decreases in cortisol levels from pre‐assessment to follow‐up, whereas HIV– men in the intervention group showed increased levels of cortisol within the same time‐period 94 . The third study assessed predictive effects of catecholamines as moderators of a bereavement intervention and CG treatment outcomes after bereavement 95 . Sixteen bereaved individuals provided information on the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) pre‐ and post‐psychotherapy and blood epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine were assessed 4 weeks before the intervention.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bereavement can have health‐impairing and fatal consequences for the surviving individual 4,6,9,106 and, as a consequence, interventions have been designed and evaluated to buffer these effects. The available studies on the effects of these interventions found the intervention to reduce cortisol levels 94,95 . Furthermore, epinephrine levels predicted psychopathology‐related treatment outcomes suggesting that pre‐treatment stress levels moderated the effectiveness of the intervention 95 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Neuroendocrine mechanisms of grief and bereavement: A systematic review and implications for future interventions

Hopf

Eckstein

Aguilar‐Raab

et al. 2020

J Neuroendocrinology

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Bereavement is associated with many negative behavioural, psychological and physiological consequences and leads to an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. However, studies specifically examining neuroendocrine mechanisms of grief and bereavement have yet to be reviewed. This systematic review is a synthesis of the latest evidence in this field and aims to draw conclusions about the implications of neurobiological findings on the development of new interventions. PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were used to search for articles assessing neuroendocrine correlates of grief. Findings were qualitatively summarised. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Study Assessment Tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Out of 460 papers, 20 met the inclusion criteria. However, most were of fair quality only. As a neuroendocrine marker, the majority of the studies reported cortisol as the outcome measure and found elevated mean cortisol levels, flattened diurnal cortisol slopes and higher morning cortisol in bereaved subjects. Cortisol alterations were moderated by individual differences such as emotional reaction to grief, depressive symptoms, grief severity, closeness to the deceased and age or gender. Research on neuroendocrine mechanisms of grief is still in its early stages regarding grief measures and the use and timing of neuroendocrine assessments. Most of the studies focus on cortisol as outcome, and only limited data exist on other biomarkers such as oxytocin. Future research might consider assessing a broader range of neuroendocrine markers and use longitudinal designs with a focus on the psychobiological reactions to loss. Based on this, individually tailored psychosocial interventions, possibly in the palliative care context, might be developed to prevent prolonged grief disorder.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Neuroendocrine mechanisms of grief and bereavement: A systematic review and implications for future interventions

Hopf

Eckstein

Aguilar‐Raab

et al. 2020

J Neuroendocrinology

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show abstract

Pharmacotherapy of Pathological Grief Responses

Vance¹,

Bui

2017

Clinical Handbook of Bereavement and Grief Reactions

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Divergent gene expression responses to Complicated Grief and Non-complicated Grief

O’Connor

Schultze-Florey

Irwin

et al. 2014

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

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The “widowhood effect” (i.e., morbidity/mortality in recently bereaved spouses) may be related to changes in immune function, but little is known about the impact of bereavement on gene transcription in immune cells. This study examined how Complicated Grief and Non-complicated Grief responses to bereavement differentially affect leukocyte gene expression. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling and bioinformatic analyses were completed on 63 older adults. Thirty-six of them had lost their spouse/partner on average 2 years ago, and 27 were nonbereaved, married controls. Twelve of the bereaved participants met criteria for Complicated Grief. Compared to nonbereaved controls, bereavement (both Complicated Grief and Non-complicated Grief) was associated with upregulated expression of genes involved in general immunologic activation and a selective downregulation of genes involved in B lymphocyte responses. However, Complicated Grief and Non-complicated Grief differed markedly in their expression of Type I interferon-related transcripts, with Non-complicated Grief subjects showing substantial upregulation relative to nonbereaved controls and Complicated Grief subjects showing substantial downregulation. Bereavement significantly modulates immune function gene expression. The magnitude of bereavement-related distress (i.e., Complicated Grief vs. Non-complicated Grief) is linked to differential patterns of transcription factor activation and gene expression involved in innate antiviral responses. These findings provide a molecular framework for understanding the health effects of bereavement, as well as new insights into the particular gene modules that are most sensitive to the individual's psychological response to loss.

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Catecholamine predictors of complicated grief treatment outcomes

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Neuroendocrine mechanisms of grief and bereavement: A systematic review and implications for future interventions

Neuroendocrine mechanisms of grief and bereavement: A systematic review and implications for future interventions

Pharmacotherapy of Pathological Grief Responses

Divergent gene expression responses to Complicated Grief and Non-complicated Grief

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