Complicated Bereavement and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Fatal Car Crashes: Recommendations for Death Notification Practice

Stewart, Alan E.

doi:10.1080/074811899200984

Cited by 50 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Unlike the gradual demise of a relative with a progressive illness, bereavement by sudden and unanticipated violence robs the family of the innoculatory balm of anticipation. Added to this is the stark confrontation of the survivors with their own mortality and vulnerability as the illusion of safety and order in the world is shattered (Amick-McMullan et al, 1989;Armour, 2003;Bard & Sangry, 1986;Boss, 2002;Carson & MacLeod, 1997;Getzel & Masters, 1984;Janoff-Bulman, 1992;MacLeod, 1999;Miller, 1994Miller, , 1998aMiller, , 1998bMiller, , 1999Miller, , 2003aMiller, , 2003bMiller, , 2008Miller & Schlesinger, 2000;Niemeyer, 2000Niemeyer, , 2001Park & Folkman, 1997;Raphael, 1983;Ressler et al, 1988;Rynearson, 1984Rynearson, , 1988Rynearson, , 2001Rynearson & McCreery, 1993;Sewell, 1993Sewell, , 1994Sprang & McNeil, 1995;Sprang et al, 1989;Stewart, 1999;Worden, 1991).…”

Section: Effect Of a Loved One's Murder On Family Membersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Survivors of Homicide: I. Symptoms, Syndromes, and Reaction Patterns

Miller¹

2009

The Am. J. of Family Therapy

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As more and more mental health clinicians become involved in the criminal justice system, family therapists will see increasing numbers of crime victims in their caseloads, and some of these families will have lost loved ones to murder. Part I of this two-part article describes the common and atypical symptoms, syndromes, and reaction patterns shown by families who have experienced the murder of a loved one. Part II will present a practical model for treating family survivors of homicide that incorporates cognitivebehavioral, psychodynamic, family systems, and existential components. Throughout, the emphasis is on therapists being equipped with a sufficiently broad range of clinical tools to treat these survivors flexibly, effectively, competently, and compassionately.As more and more mental health clinicians become involved in the criminal justice system, family therapists will see increasing numbers of crime victims in their caseloads, and some of these families will have lost loved ones to murder. Part I of this two-part article describes the common and atypical symptoms, syndromes, and reaction patterns shown by families who have experienced the murder of a loved one. Part II will present a practical model for treating family survivors of homicide that incorporates cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, family systems, and existential components. Throughout the process, therapists should understand the importance of being equipped with a sufficiently broad range of clinical tools to treat these survivors flexibly, effectively, competently, and compassionately.

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Section: Effect Of a Loved One's Murder On Family Membersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Survivors of Homicide: I. Symptoms, Syndromes, and Reaction Patterns

Miller¹

2009

The Am. J. of Family Therapy

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“…First, these three kinds of death may occur suddenly, involve some degree of violence or mutilation before death, and be perceived by the survivors as deaths that were somehow preventable or avoidable ( Cleiren, 1993;Rando, 1993;Stewart, 1999 ). These characteristics, among others, may make the loss especially traumatic for the survivors when the noti cation occurs.…”

Section: Ifficult Losses and Survivor Reactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Performing an extremely difficult task such as death noti cation with no previous training can make a noti er feel helpless and powerless ( Bartone, Ursano, Wright, & Ingraham, 1989;Ender & Hermsen, 1996;Stewart, 1999 ). Education that helps noti ers to respond e¡ectively to particularly stressful situations can make the noti cation process less traumatic in the short term and ultimately may reduce professional burnout and job turnover.…”

Section: N Eeds For D Eath N Oti Cation Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey of Professionals' Training and Experiences in Delivering Death Notifications

Stewart

Lord²,

Mercer³

2000

Death Studies

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A mail survey was conducted of 240 people from different professions that routinely encountered death to assess their previous training and experiences in delivering death notifications. Nearly 40% of these persons had received neither classroom nor experiential training in death notification, although 70% of respondents had performed at least one notification. The causes of death that contributed to notifiers' distress during notification included (a) violent crime, (b) drunk driving crashes, (c) suicide, and (d) the death of a child. Survivor reactions that were the most difficult for notifiers to manage during the notification included (a) attempts to harm self or others (b) physical acting-out, and (c) intense anxiety. Notifiers indicated that they most frequently coped with the stresses of notification by (a) spending time with family, (b) talking with coworkers, and (c) spending time alone. The implications of the results and the needs for systematic death notification education were discussed.

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“…[1][2][3] Death notification not only puts a toll on the informer performing the task, but may also have long-term effects on the grief process of survivors. 4 Despite the fact that this task is of central importance and has significant implications, less than half of physicians in one study "reported receiving any education during medical school or residency" in death notification, and 94% reported "a need for education in dealing with death and dying". 5 The task of learning death notification is complex.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

The effect of a role-playing exercise on clerkship students' views of death notification: the Swedish experience

Nordström

Fjellman‐Wiklund

Grysell

2011

Int. J. Medical Education

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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine clerkship students' perspective towards delivering death notifications. An additional purpose of the study was to identify the learning needs of students following a role play exercise in delivering death notifications. Methods: Participants in this study were fourth-year medical students (N=86) ranging in age from 22-43 years with a mean age of 27.1 years. There were 28 women and 58 men. Questionnaires, consisting of open-ended questions and a visual analogue scale (VAS), were administered before and after the "Marathon Death" role play exercise. Results: Six categories emerged from the analysis of the questionnaire:communication, emotions, selfdevelopment, exercise-related, learning opportunities and tools and strategies. Results from the visual analogue scale showed that the majority of students (60%) needed to practice how to deliver difficult messages in death notifications. After taking part in the role-playing activity with video playback, where the students had an opportunity to view, discuss and reenact scenarios, seventy-six out of 78 (97.4%) stated that they had received training in communication skills. The responding students rated the exercise as highly relevant, scoring it a mean of 91 on a VAS scale of 0 to 100 mm. Conclusions: Students are not competent in the communication skills required for delivering death notifications. A majority of students expressed a need for training in communication skills. The "Marathon Death" role play exercise provides initial training and emotional support for delivering a death notification. However, further empirical studies are required about the effect of the exercise on delivering the notification of death.

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Complicated Bereavement and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Fatal Car Crashes: Recommendations for Death Notification Practice

Cited by 50 publications

References 40 publications

Family Survivors of Homicide: I. Symptoms, Syndromes, and Reaction Patterns

Family Survivors of Homicide: I. Symptoms, Syndromes, and Reaction Patterns

A Survey of Professionals' Training and Experiences in Delivering Death Notifications

The effect of a role-playing exercise on clerkship students' views of death notification: the Swedish experience

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