title: Postbereavement depressive mood and its prebereavement predictors in HIV+ and HIV- gay men.
abstract: Prebereavement predictors of the course of postbereavement depressive mood were examined in 110 gay men who were their partner's caregiver until the partner's death of AIDS. In all, 37 HIV+ and 73 HIV- bereaved caregiving partners were assessed bimonthly throughout a 10-month period beginning 3 months before and ending 7 months after the partner's death. Throughout the 10 months, mean Centers for Epidemiology Scale-Depression (CES-D) scores on depressive mood were above the cutoff for being at risk for major depression. CES-D scores decreased for 63% bereaved caregivers over the 7 postbereavement months, and 37% showed little change from high CES-D scores or increasing CES-D scores. High prebereavement CES-D scores and finding positive meaning in caregiving predicted diminishing depressive mood; HIV+ serostatus, longer relationships, hassles, and use of distancing and self-blame to cope predicted unrelieved depressive mood.
authors.affiliation: Center of AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94105, USA. folkman@quickmail.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Folkman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chesney
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Collette
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccellari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco; D012803:Sick Role