Coming to Terms With the Sudden, Traumatic Death of a Spouse or Child (From Victims of Crime, P 108-133, 1997, Robert C. Davis, Arthur J. Lurigio, et al., eds. - See NCJ-167360)

• NCJ Number: 167366
• Author(s): C B Wortman; E S Battle; J P Lemjau
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 26 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A literature review and professional experience form the basis of this analysis of the psychological impacts on survivors of the sudden, traumatic death of a spouse or child.

Abstract

The survivors of each such incident experienced a fundamental change in their lives. Although survivors of such losses are expected to put the loss behind them after a year or so, the grief process in these situations is usually intense and prolonged. Exposure to traumatic loss places survivors at enormous psychological risk. However, they usually attempt to handle the impact of the trauma on their own and rarely seek professional help. Nevertheless, professional help is almost always needed. The person providing the treatment should be trained in grief therapy and in specific techniques to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health professionals who are currently in graduate school or who received their degrees before courses on trauma were available should receive training in trauma. Such training is also important for family physicians and clergy, because they may be the first and only professionals with whom the survivor has contact. 40 references