The Narrative Dynamics of Grief after Homicide

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward K. Rynearson

The homicidal death of a loved one is horrific. Dying from homicide can be more sudden, frightening, and stigmatizing than natural dying and may be followed by a sub-type of prolonged grief complicated by vivid narrative reenactment of the dying, intense feelings of remorse, and nihilistic despair. After a literature review of grief after homicide, the author clarifies the salient narrative themes of homicidal dying and their specific effects on trauma and separation distress. A preliminary model is then developed and illustrated in a therapy case outlining a technique (imaginative exposure) to diminish the disabling fixation of reenactment imagery, remorse, and despair.

npj Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junli Li ◽  
Lingjun Zhan ◽  
Chuan Qin

AbstractBacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), the only vaccine proven to be effective against tuberculosis (TB), is the most commonly used vaccine globally. In addition to its effects on mycobacterial diseases, an increasing amount of epidemiological and experimental evidence accumulated since its introduction in 1921 has shown that BCG also exerts non-specific effects against a number of diseases, such as non-mycobacterial infections, allergies and certain malignancies. Recent Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has put BCG, a classic vaccine with significant non-specific protection, into the spotlight again. This literature review briefly covers the diverse facets of BCG vaccine, providing new perspectives in terms of specific and non-specific protection mechanisms of this old, multifaceted, and controversial vaccine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Aguiar ◽  
Marta Pinto ◽  
Raquel Duarte

Abstract Background During these unprecedented times, individuals who experience the sudden death of a family member or friend, already miss the anticipatory grief and are now also prevented from a proper farewell. This study aimed to address prolonged grief disorder since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic Methods A virtual snowball sampling survey was disseminated through social networking channels. The study enrolled participants from general resident population in Portugal with ≥18 years. Characteristics of the sample were summarized using descriptive statistics. Anxiety and depression symptoms are described by absolute and relative frequencies and compared through the Chi-square test. Results A total of 929 participants completed the survey; 17.9% (n = 166) have lost someone since the beginning of the pandemic, making our final sample. Most were female (66.9%); median age of 35 years and 70.5% had a high education degree. Participants who had lost a grandparent consisted of 28.3% of the sample, father and/or mother 9.0%, and a friend 22.3%. We found a prevalence of 30.7% of anxiety symptoms and 10.2% of depression symptoms (p = 0.030). Also, 16.8% have had a high score on the PG13, which show that these people can mourned for longer periods. Conclusions Paying the last tribute to a loved one is a mental health gesture that allows individuals to make amends and reconcile with life. Key messages The need arises to give timely attention to the psychological consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic concerning grief


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S640-S640
Author(s):  
S. Färber ◽  
M. Färber

IntroductionMourning the death of a loved one, the loss of social aggregation or familiar, or any trauma may not follow the normal process when has any kind of complication In these cases of the complicated mourning, a person may develop or manifest dissociative behaviors, like diogenes syndrome or the misery senile syndrome.ObjectiveTo investigate the presence of unauthorized mourning, complicated or not elaborate as triggers of diogenes syndrome and misery senile.MethodsTo develop this research we use the systematic literature review, following the process of research, cataloging, careful evaluation and synthesis of the documentation associated with the method of thanatological hermeneutics.ConclusionThanatology is useful tool in scientific and clinical research and care for patients with diogenes syndrome. The need for safety against the distress of fear of the future and loneliness is at the origin of compulsive hoarding. If the mythical diogenes lived in Athens a Spartan life, living in a barrel, as the character Chespirito of Roberto Bolaños (Fig. 1), the carriers of this syndrome follow the opposite path accumulating objects to achieve a sense of stability.ResultsThere is a significant presence of unresolved grief in the history of the psychiatric patient with diogenes syndrome.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Author(s):  
Charles E. Woodman

The author uses case studies to illustrate the effectiveness of two techniques which pastoral caregivers may teach to family carers of dementia patients. In the last stages of dementia, it is important to seek meaning and keep in significant contact as long as possible, both for family members as well as for the dementia patients. After a brief literature review, implications for care theory, practice, and policy are reviewed, and a scientific bias is illustrated. These techniques build on the work of C. G. Jung and James Hillman, utilizing metaphor in non-rational uses of language. It is suggested that pastoral caregivers could teach these techniques to families of this population, in the hope of prolonging meaningful connection with their loved one.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 644-650
Author(s):  
Daniel Harris ◽  
Petra Polgarova ◽  
Lisa Enoch

Background: Losing a loved one in the intensive care unit (ICU) can be a traumatic experience. The literature highlights that relatives of those who have died in ICU can experience symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prolonged grief. Aim: To evaluate the service delivery of the bereavement care that is provided on a 20-bed general ICU. Methods and analysis: A literature review informing and supporting the service evaluation and development of the questionnaire. Thematic analysis was undertaken using the six-phase framework. Findings: Five main themes were found: timing; care, dignity and respect; support; information; and memory making. Bereavement care is described as after-death care. However, the participants stipulated that bereavement care should be discussed prior to the death. Participants described using a range of interventions, such as memorial services, condolence letters, follow-up meetings and diaries. Conclusion: Bereavement care was regarded as an important aspect of the care delivered in ICU. It was evident that participants strived to deliver an holistic approach, yet some found this difficult to achieve.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105413732110380
Author(s):  
Ritesh M. Kumar

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has halted life all around the world. The disease, along with quarantine, social distancing, unemployment, and displacement, has led to myriad losses. There is a rising concern for the epidemic of grief that can result from these multiple losses. The present study aimed to investigate how grief is understood and discussed in the extant literature during the COVID pandemic. A systematic literature review was conducted using PsycArticles, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The qualitative synthesis of 33 articles indicates that grief can be manifested at various levels such as grief for self, relational grief, collective grief, and ecological grief. Another theme emphasizes some of the factors that could intensify the grief process leading to prolonged grief disorder. A third theme relates to the focus of grief processes as experienced by individuals in different developmental periods from childhood to senescence. The study contributes theoretically by expanding our perception and understanding of varied forms of grief.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 78-79
Author(s):  
I. Caldas

IntroductionWith coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a lot of people have succumbed and older adults were disproportionately affected. (1,2) Also, grief is encountered frequently in clinical practice with the elderly, and can be defined as the natural response to the death of a loved one. Still, when a failure of adaptation occurs then a Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) can be diagnosed, which has been recently included in ICD-11. The principal feature of PGD is a persistent preoccupation or an intense longing for the deceased that lasts longer than 6 months after the death. (3)Objective:Comprehend the grief in the elderly and its implications in their health.Methods:The author conducted a literature review by searching the Pubmed database using the keywords elderly; grief; complicated grief; covid-19Results:PGD is relatively prevalent among the elderly and has been associated with some variables related to the death time of the deceased, being the prevalence inversely correlated with the deceased’s. (4, 5) Additionally, older adults present a higher risk of developing PGD when they are lesseducated, male, have poorer cognitive performance, and a history of depression. (3) PGD is characterized by sadness, fascination with or excessive avoidance of the memories associated with the deceased, the memory of the loss and mental ruminations about death. According to some investigations, PGD reduces life expectancy, increasing the odds of death, causes severe behavioural symptoms, and is associated with longer-term functional impairment. (4,5)Conclusion:Given these results, it is easy to understand the need for a closer monitoring of these patients during this global crisis. Moreover, it is also important to find new ways to do that while complying with COVID-19 rules and restrictions. A short-term evidence-based intervention for PGD effective in the elderly is based on support focused upon these seven themes: understanding their grief, managing emotional pain, thinkingabout the future, strengthening their relationships, telling the story of the dead, learning to live with reminders of the deceased, and connecting with memories. (3)


Crisis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joah L. Williams ◽  
Jasmine R. Eddinger ◽  
Edward K. Rynearson ◽  
Alyssa A. Rheingold

Abstract. Background: Family members grieving the traumatic death of a loved one, as in cases of homicide, suicide, and fatal accidents, are at risk for a number of trauma and bereavement-related mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, prolonged grief disorder, and suicidal ideation (SI). Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of SI among a sample of 130 treatment-seeking traumatically bereaved family members. Method: Adults seeking treatment at two clinics on the US West Coast were assessed for SI, clinical outcomes, and death-related characteristics. Results: Overall, 42% of traumatically bereaved family members endorsed some form of active or passive SI on the Beck Depression Inventory suicide item. The type of loss experienced (i.e., homicide, suicide, fatal accident) was not associated with SI. Although individuals with SI reported more severe symptoms across all clinical outcomes, avoidance (OR = 2.22) and depression (OR = 1.16) were uniquely associated with SI even after adjusting for PTSD-related intrusions and hyperarousal. Limitations: Results should be interpreted in light of limitations associated with cross-sectional data and a single-item outcome of SI. Conclusion: Routine screening for SI should be standard practice for providers working with traumatically bereaved families.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e046477
Author(s):  
Cintia Tur ◽  
Daniel Campos ◽  
Rocio Herrero ◽  
Sonia Mor ◽  
Alba López-Montoyo ◽  
...  

IntroductionGrief is an emotional reaction to the loss of a loved one with a natural recovery. Approximately 10% of people who lose a loved one develop prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Internet-based and computer-based interventions (ie, internet-delivered cognitive–behavioural therapy, iCBT) are a cost-effective alternative that makes it possible to reach more people with PGD. The main aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a new iCBT—called GROw—for PGD. As a secondary objective, the potential effectiveness of GROw will be explored.Methods and analysisThis study is a two-arm feasibility randomised trial. A total of 48 adults with PGD who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomised to the experimental group (iCBT: GROw) or the active control group (face-to-face CBT treatment). The treatment is organised sequentially in eight modules in the iCBT format and 8–10 sessions in the face-to-face format, and both formats have the same therapeutic components. There will be five assessment points with qualitative and quantitative evaluations: screening, baseline, after the intervention, 3-month follow-up and 12-month follow-up. Consistent with the objectives, the measures are related to the feasibility outcomes for the main aim of the study (participant adherence, expectations and satisfaction with the treatment, preferences, alliance and utility) and psychological and mental health outcomes for secondary analyses (symptoms of grief, symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, affectivity, quality of life, work and social adaptation, post-traumatic growth, purpose in life, mindfulness and compassion).Ethics and disseminationThe Ethics Committee of the Universitat Jaume I (Castellón, Spain) granted approval for the study (CD/002/2019). Dissemination will include publications and presentations at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberNCT04462146.


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