A review of the emotional, psychiatric and behavioural responses to bereavement in people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Particular difficulties are associated with researching the effects of bereavement on people with IDs. Further work needs to be done to more accurately describe the nature, time-scale, severity and frequency of the symptoms of traumatic grief in people with IDs, in order to improve assessment and treatment of affected individuals.

Conceptualising bereavement in profound and multiple learning disabilities

“…The latter is a long way from investigating this in people with PMLD, however, but future research may provide a better understanding of attachment relationships in this group, and related risk factors for complicated grieving. Indeed, in supporting the attachment-based perspective, Dodd et al (2005) call for the field to move beyond seeing bereavement as requiring intervention and instead working towards developing and supporting relationships. Future research in this area may seek to better understand the separation behaviours of people with PMLD, and fully consider those factots contributing to complicated grieving in this group.…”

El concepto de muerte en jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual: una contribución a la pedagogía de la muerte

“…46 (1), n.º 253, 2015, enero-marzo, pp. 67-80 -77 -of biological death, as found in other studies (McEvoy, 1989;Myreddi & Narayan, 1993;Dodd et al, 2005). The fact that all the components that define biological death are not completely understood does not mean that those who experience the loss of a significant person in their lives, does not suffer or feel the natural pain that may come with the death of a loved one.…”

“…This past research provides the theoretical basis for the current study, which, when compared to previous studies, provides a holistic vision of the complexities of the concept of death, addressing not only biological understanding (Dodd et al, 2005;Kennedy, 2000;McEvoy, 1989;Mc Evoy et al, 2002;Seltzer, 1989) but also the ideas, beliefs and attitudes towards death (Meeusen-van de Kerkhof et al, 2006).…”

“…The acquisition of the concept was correlative to the degree of intellectual disability of the participants. In a theoretical review, Dodd et al (2005) found that many authors have concluded that there is a relationship between the acquisition of the concept of biological death and intellectual capacity. Unlike McEvoy (1989), Kennedy (2000) found that the fact of having had previous experiences of loss was much related to the acquisition of the concept of biological death in a study of 108 adults with intellectual disability.…”

“Y Si Me Muero… ¿dónde Está Mi Futuro?” Hacia Una Educación Para La Muerte en Personas Con Discapacidad Intelectual (“If I Die, Where Is My Future?” Towards a Death Education in People With Intellectual Disabilities)

“…El aumento en la esperanza de vida de personas con discapacidad intelectual ha generado un interés por investigar cómo mejorar la atención psicosocial y las condiciones de estas personas en sus últimos años de vida (véanse, por ejemplo, Heller, 2009, León Aguado y Alcedo, 2004. Este aumento en la esperanza y calidad de vida no ha evitado que el duelo sea todavía un tema tabú tanto en la investigación (Dodd, Dowling y Hollins, 2005;Todd, 2002) como en su atención educativa y psicológica. Si se han realizado pocos estudios sobre el afrontamiento de la pérdida en personas con discapacidad intelectual, menores son los que proponen una educación para la pérdida, la muerte y el duelo con esta población.…”