Trauma and bereavement: examining the impact of sudden and violent deaths.
The intersection between trauma and bereavement has only recently been explored. Prior studies of bereavement have often neglected to measure posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; the few that have offer equivocal findings concerning the role of PTSD symptomatology following loss. Few studies have explored the relationship between PTSD and the other psychological sequelae more commonly associated with loss. The current investigation assessed PTSD symptoms over time following the death of a spouse, using violence and the suddenness of the loss as potential outcome predictors. In addition, the relationship between PTSD and depression symptoms was assessed. Violent death predicted PTSD symptoms and the persistence of depression over time. The suddenness of the loss was not related to PTSD symptoms. This investigation suggests that violent death results in development of PTSD symptoms over and above the normal grief response and thus, may contribute to a more severe grief response.
Kaltman
Stacey
S
Department of Psychology, The Catholic University of America, VA Capitol Healthcare Network, MIRECC, 10 N Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. sk279@georgetown.edu
Bonanno
George A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001601:Bereavement; D002423:Cause of Death; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012495:San Francisco; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries