Death thoughts and images in treatment-seekers after violent loss

Death Stud. 2015 Jan-Jun;39(1-5):84-91. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2014.893274. Epub 2014 Oct 8.

Abstract

Violent loss survivors often describe experiencing recurrent imagery about their loved one's death. The Death Imagery Scale assesses 5 kinds of imagery: reenactment, rescue, revenge, reunion, and remorse. We explored the frequency of these forms of imagery and their associations with PTSD, depression, and/or complicated grief (CG) among 130 treatment-seeking survivors who were, on average, 3.5 years postloss. Reenactment, rescue, and remorse imagery were most frequently endorsed, and all forms of imagery were associated with PTSD, depression, and CG. Bereaved parents reported more remorse and reunion imagery than others. Homicide survivors reported more revenge imagery than suicide and accident survivors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Accidents / psychology
  • Adult
  • Bereavement*
  • Cause of Death
  • Death
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Depression / therapy
  • Female
  • Grief
  • Homicide / psychology
  • Humans
  • Imagination / classification*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychological Techniques
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy
  • Suicide / psychology
  • Survivors / psychology*
  • Violence / psychology