title: Maternal bereavement in the perinatal substance abuser.
abstract: Maternal bereavement has been reported in involuntary perinatal loss and voluntary custody relinquishment. Since child custody loss is common among childbearing chemically dependent women, maternal bereavement was investigated in a small pilot sample of obstetric substance abusers. Findings suggest that grief in anticipation of possible postnatal custody loss is common. Unresolved grief from previous custody loss was also common. Clinical features, treatment considerations, and public health concerns are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago 60680.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Raskin
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D001601:Bereavement; D002655:Child Custody; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D009769:Object Attachment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*