The Outpatients’ Grief Reactions from the Passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej In Songklanagarind Hospital

Abstract

Objective : To assess prevalence of complicated grief and associated factors from the
passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in psychiatric and general outpatients in
Songklanagarind hospital.
Method : A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, at the Psychiatric Outpatient
Clinic and General Outpatient Clinic, Songklanagarind Hospital from March to April 2017.
Eighty-eight psychiatric outpatients and 88 general outpatients, aged older than 18 years had
completed demographic questionnaires and the Thai version of inventory of complicated grief.
The changes of complicated grief between the two groups were then analyzed by two-way
ANOVA with repeated measures. The associated factors were analyzed by multiple logistic
regression.00
Results : There was no difference in prevalence of complicated grief between the two groups at
date of occurrence (psychiatric patient 40.9% vs general outpatients 46.6%, p=0.543), 1 month
after occurrence (25.0% vs 27.3%, p=0.864) and the interview date (21.6% vs 13.6%, p=0.235).
There was, however, a significant decrease of complicated grief in psychiatric outpatients
(40.9% to 26.6%, p<0.0001), and general outpatients (46.6% to 13.67%, p<0.0001) overtime.
However, the decreased score of complicated grief in psychiatric outpatients was lower than
general outpatients, significantly (95%CI = -8.0, -2.6). The associated factor of complicated
grief in psychiatric outpatients, at date of occurrence, was; experiencing the loss of significant
persons at some time in their lives. Nonetheless, the associated factor, at 1 month after occurrence,
and the interview date, was; having a physical illness. On the other hand, marital status
was the only, associated factor of complicated grief in these general outpatients.
Conclusions : It is essential to follow complicated grief in psychiatric patients, especially
patients who experienced the loss of significant persons at some time in their lives, or had
a physical illness.