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Grief reactions in dementia carers: a systematic review
Chan D, Livingston G, Jones L, Sampson EL.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2012-03-08
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective Supporting dementia carers is an identified target of the UK government, yet we know little about such family carers' grief before and after the death of the person with dementia for whom they care. We systematically review the existing literature on characteristics, prevalence, predictors and associations of grief in dementia carers before and after death. Methods We searched electronic databases and found 31 publications meeting predetermined criteria. Results Grief in dementia carers, which may be normal or complicated, is a complex reaction to losses occurring before and after death. Carers experience anticipatory grief as multiple losses for themselves (companionship, personal freedom and control) and the person with dementia. Anticipation and ambiguity about the future, anger, frustration and guilt are core features. Anticipatory grief is greatest in moderate to severe stage dementia and spouse carers, especially when the person with dementia is institutionalised. There was poor quality evidence about the prevalence of grief; studies reported anticipatory grief between 47% and 71%, and complicated grief after death is estimated around 20%. Carer depression increases with anticipatory grief. Being a spouse carer and being depressed are the strongest predictors of complicated and normal grief after death. Conclusion Grief in dementia carers can be expected; however, those at risk of distressing anticipatory and complicated grief may be identified and targeted for intervention when necessary. Higher quality research from a wider range of samples and countries is needed to explore this complex and emergent topic.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Chan, D., Livingston, G., Jones, L., & Sampson, E. L. (2013). Grief reactions in dementia carers: a systematic review. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.3795
Vancouver
Chan D, Livingston G, Jones L, Sampson EL. Grief reactions in dementia carers: a systematic review. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 2013. doi:10.1002/gps.3795. PMID: 22407743.
BibTeX
@article{chan2013-22407743,
author = {Chan, D. and Livingston, G. and Jones, L. and Sampson, E. L.},
title = {{Grief reactions in dementia carers: a systematic review}},
journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1002/gps.3795},
pmid = {22407743},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.3795}
}
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Key findings
- Results Grief in dementia carers, which may be normal or complicated, is a complex reaction to losses occurring before and after death.
Why it matters
This systematic review of 31 publications found that grief in dementia carers, which may be normal or complicated, is a complex reaction to losses before and after death, with anticipatory grief reported between 47% and 71% and complicated grief after death estimated around 20%. Being a spouse carer and being depressed were the strongest predictors of grief after death, but the evidence on prevalence was of poor quality.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of geriatric psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 190 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomization is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 243 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.2 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 65 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Elizabeth L Sampson: h-index 66 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22407743) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
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