Results of a study of over 100 children whose father killed their mother have been summarized and principles for practice have been formulated. All children orphaned by the death of one parent at the other’s hands should be seen as soon as possible in a child psychiatry department and assessed. An immediate crisis intervention will probably be needed if they witnessed the killing to prevent PTSD. Bereavement counselling will be helpful in most cases. The caretakers will need support and help with their own mourning. Placement, access and custody, compensation, seeing the body, attending the funeral and dealing with family conflict will all need consideration. Long-term follow-up and further research are recommended.

No abstract

There is increasing interest in the psychological effects of violence and disaster in both adults and children, although much remains to be understood. Siblings of children who have undergone such experiences have been little studied. Such siblings may be bereaved or may experience changes in family circumstances, or may develop psychological sequelae. They may be affected by legal procedures and media coverage. This new understanding of the needs of siblings may have implications for service development, including health and education.

No abstract