Pharmacological Treatment Following Traumatic Bereavement: A Case Series

Cacciatore, Joanne; Thieleman, Kara

doi:10.1080/15325024.2012.688699

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Trauma, which emerged as a major theme of this study, is supported by prior studies [21,23]. The role of HCPs in mitigating this trauma through compassionate care was also found to be a recurrent theme.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

What bereaved parents want health care providers to know when their babies are stillborn: a community-based participatory study

et al. 2020

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Background: Bereaved parents experience higher rates of depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms after the stillbirth of a baby than after live-birth. Yet, these effects remain underreported in the literature and, consequently, insufficiently addressed in health provider education and practice. We conducted a participatory based study to explore the experiences of grieving parents during their interaction with health care providers during and after the stillbirth of a baby.Methods: This community-based participatory study utilized four focus groups comprised of twenty-seven bereaved parents (44% fathers). Bereaved parents conceptualized the study, participating at all stages of research, analyses, and drafting. Data were reduced into a main theme and subthemes, then broad-based member checked to ensure fidelity and nuances within themes.Results: The major theme that emerged centered on provider acknowledgement of the baby as an irreplaceable individual. Subthemes reflected 1) acknowledgement of parenthood and grief, 2) recognition of the traumatic nature of stillbirth, and 3) acknowledgement of enduring grief coupled with access to support. It was important that providers realized how grief was experienced within health care and social support systems, concretized by their desire for long-term, specialized support.Conclusions: Both mothers and fathers feel that acknowledgement of their baby as an individual, their parenthood, and their enduring traumatic grief by healthcare providers are key elements required in the process of initiating immediate and ongoing care after the stillbirth of a baby.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

What bereaved parents want health care providers to know when their babies are stillborn: a community-based participatory study

et al. 2020

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“…We are concerned that these data could lead to systemic pathologizing of bereaved parents. The common degree of distress may be viewed by some as indicative of a mental disorder, or, alternatively, the normal and common expressions of a profoundly traumatic and life altering loss (Cacciatore & Thieleman, 2012). We favor the latter interpretation and believe critical thinking regarding diagnosis is earnestly necessary-indeed, the frequency and intensity of reported distress raises the question of what is "normal" for a bereaved parent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A Parent's Tears: Primary Results from the Traumatic Experiences and Resiliency Study

et al. 2014

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This study examined health/mental health status, family functioning, and resiliency among a sample of bereaved parents (N = 503). Participants were recruited from an online support community to complete an online survey instrument (response rate = 51.75%). The questionnaire contained an array of self-report instruments, such as the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Family Assessment Device (FAD), as well as open-ended questions. Many respondents scored over the clinical cut-off for the HSCL-25 (51.3%, n = 258) and IES-R (42.3%, n = 213). IES-R scores were negatively correlated with years-since loss (r = -0.24, p < .05). In narrative responses, participants described a wide range of deeply impactful mental and physical health problems. The results indicate significant clinical distress in this sample of bereaved parents, with many reporting enduring psychological, familial, and health consequences following the death of a child.

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“…Second, because bereaved mothers may be trying to conceive again, or have already conceived, they are often reluctant to take psychiatric medication, preferring non-pharmacologic alternatives [ 1 ]. In addition, medication cannot address the psychosocial aspects of grief and the accompanying emotional distress [ 28 ]. Third, though support groups for bereaved parents may provide a familiar and safe environment to connect with others who have had similar experiences [ 29 , 30 ], these groups often have little to no emphasis on adaptive coping strategies for PTSD symptoms (e.g., hypervigilance, intrusion, avoidance) and the underlying emotional etiology [ 19 , 31 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A study protocol of a three-group randomized feasibility trial of an online yoga intervention for mothers after stillbirth (The Mindful Health Study)

Huberty

Matthews

Leiferman

et al. 2017

Pilot Feasibility Stud

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BackgroundIn the USA, stillbirth (in utero fetal death ≥20 weeks gestation) is a major public health issue. Women who experience stillbirth, compared to women with live birth, have a nearly sevenfold increased risk of a positive screen for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a fourfold increased risk of depressive symptoms. Because the majority of women who have experienced the death of their baby become pregnant within 12–18 months and the lack of intervention studies conducted within this population, novel approaches targeting physical and mental health, specific to the needs of this population, are critical. Evidence suggests that yoga is efficacious, safe, acceptable, and cost-effective for improving mental health in a variety of populations, including pregnant and postpartum women. To date, there are no known studies examining online-streaming yoga as a strategy to help mothers cope with PTSD symptoms after stillbirth.MethodsThe present study is a two-phase randomized controlled trial. Phase 1 will involve (1) an iterative design process to develop the online yoga prescription for phase 2 and (2) qualitative interviews to identify cultural barriers to recruitment in non-Caucasian women (i.e., predominately Hispanic and/or African American) who have experienced stillbirth (N = 5). Phase 2 is a three-group randomized feasibility trial with assessments at baseline, and at 12 and 20 weeks post-intervention. Ninety women who have experienced a stillbirth within 6 weeks to 24 months will be randomized into one of the following three arms for 12 weeks: (1) intervention low dose (LD) = 60 min/week online-streaming yoga (n = 30), (2) intervention moderate dose (MD) = 150 min/week online-streaming yoga (n = 30), or (3) stretch and tone control (STC) group = 60 min/week of stretching/toning exercises (n = 30).DiscussionThis study will explore the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week, home-based, online-streamed yoga intervention, with varying doses among mothers after a stillbirth. If feasible, the findings from this study will inform a full-scale trial to determine the effectiveness of home-based online-streamed yoga to improve PTSD. Long-term, health care providers could use online yoga as a non-pharmaceutical, inexpensive resource for stillbirth aftercare.Trial registration NCT02925481

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Pharmacological Treatment Following Traumatic Bereavement: A Case Series

Cited by 7 publications

References 48 publications

What bereaved parents want health care providers to know when their babies are stillborn: a community-based participatory study

What bereaved parents want health care providers to know when their babies are stillborn: a community-based participatory study

A Parent's Tears: Primary Results from the Traumatic Experiences and Resiliency Study

A study protocol of a three-group randomized feasibility trial of an online yoga intervention for mothers after stillbirth (The Mindful Health Study)

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