COPENHAGEN, July 24, 2025 – People who experience long-lasting grief after losing a loved one are more likely to have long-term health problems, visit the doctor more often, take more medications, and even die earlier, according to a major new study.
Researchers in Denmark followed 1,735 adults over a 10-year period after they lost a close family member. They discovered that those whose grief symptoms remained intense over time – about 6% of the group – were almost twice as likely to die during that period compared to those whose grief faded. This group, known in the study as the “high grief trajectory,” also had higher use of mental health services, more frequent GP visits, and were nearly five times more likely to take antidepressants.
The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, tracked grief symptoms using a validated clinical scale at three points: before the loss, six months after, and again three years later. Participants were grouped into five different grief patterns, from mild and short-lived to intense and persistent.
People in the high grief group were also more likely to use sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medications. Their higher use of healthcare services lasted up to seven years after the bereavement – well beyond what might be expected during a typical period of mourning.
The study highlights that while most people eventually adjust to a significant loss, a small group continues to struggle, with real and measurable impacts on their physical and mental health.
“This group is not just sad or struggling emotionally – many are dealing with chronic grief that seems to affect their entire health trajectory,” the authors noted. They call for better systems in place to identify and support people at risk early, particularly in general practice, where many people first go after a loss.
The findings add weight to the idea that prolonged grief is a serious health concern – not just an emotional one. Although grief is a normal response to loss, experts say that when it persists without improvement, it may require targeted support and professional care.