Emotional state and bereavement in relatives of people with dementia after the death of the patient: A systematic review

In recent years it has been consistently found that caregivers of relatives with dementia suffer health problems and emotional distress during the caregiving period. However, most studies have focused en this stage, paying scarce attention to the impact of the patient s death on their caregivers and to the emotional process from this moment. We present a systematic review of studies that assess the emotional state and grief in relatives of people with dementia after the death of the patient. Results support the relief hypothesis, given the fact that the caregivers depressive symptoms decreased after the patient s death. However, some caregivers developed a complicated grief associated with certain characteristics (lower education, lower income, depressive and anxiety symptoms, psychotropic use, burden, and perception of positive aspects of caring). Data show the convenience of applying programs focused on teaching caregivers skills to cope with the loss of the loved one.