The Aftermath of the Violent Death of a Child: an Integration of the Assessments of Parents’ Mental Distress and PTSD During the First 5 Years of Bereavement

Mental distress & posttraumatic stress disorder were assessed among 173 parents bereaved by the accidental, suicide or homicide death of an adolescent or young adult child. Study data were collected prospectively 4, 12, 24, & 60 months post-death. The results showed that 5 years later, 61% of the mothers & 62% of the fathers met diagnostic criteria for mental distress, & 27.7% of the mothers & 12.5% of the fathers met diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Parents’ self-reports were that 3 to 4 years were required to reach loss accommodation. (47 refs.)