Bereavement was studied by interviewing 40 relatives of patients who had died in a St. Louis hospital in 1963. The presence of a variety of symptoms (e.g. suicidal thoughts, depression, sleep disturbance) was recorded as occurring before the deceased’s illness, during the illness, and after the death (first interview & follow-up). After death, 21 women reported suicidal thoughts. At follow-up 81% of the subjects had improved. A detailed case report of one bereaved woman is given. (16 refs.)