PTSD Among Bereaved Parents Following the Violent Deaths of Their 12- to 28-Year-old Children: a Longitudinal Prospective Analysis

This study examined the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among parents bereaved by the violent deaths of their 12- to 28-year-old children. Important findings included that both parents’ gender and children’s causes of death significantly affected the prevalence of PTSD symptoms. Twice as many mothers and fathers whose children were murdered met PTSD full diagnostic criteria compared with accident and suicide bereavement. Both theoretical and clinical implications for these and other findings are discussed. (48 refs)