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Steven J. Schleifer, MD; Steven E. Keller, PhD; Maria Camerino; John C. Thornton, PhD; Marvin Stein, MD

JAMA. 1983;250(3):374-377.

Abstract
In a prospective study of 15 spouses of women with advanced breast carcinoma, lymphocyte stimulation responses to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen were significantly suppressed during the first two months following the death of a spouse compared with prebereavement levels. A highly significant suppression was seen as early as one month after bereavement. No differences were found in total lymphocyte or B- or T-cell numbers. An intermediate level of mitogen responsivity was found during the four- to 14-month period after bereavement. Suppressed immunity following the death of a spouse may be related to the increased morbidity and mortality associated with bereavement.

(JAMA 1983;250:374-377)

Author Affiliations
From the Howard Mack Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry (Drs Schleifer, Keller, and Stein and Ms Camerino), and the Department of Biomathematical Sciences (Dr Thornton), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy PI, New York, NY 10029 (Dr Schleifer).

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