CT Suicide & Traumatic Death Flashcards

Which of the following deaths is considered 'traumatic' in bereavement literature?

Answer: Sudden, unexpected, violent, or stigmatized deaths such as accidents, homicide, or suicide

Traumatic deaths include those that are sudden, unexpected, violent, or stigmatized — such as accidents, homicide, suicide, or disaster deaths — which carry unique grief challenges.

How does traumatic bereavement differ from non-traumatic bereavement?

Answer: Traumatic bereavement often involves trauma symptoms alongside grief, complicating the mourning process

Traumatic bereavement is complicated by trauma symptoms such as intrusive images, hyperarousal, and avoidance, which can interfere with normal grief processing.

After a traumatic death, trauma stabilization typically precedes grief work because:

Answer: Overwhelming trauma symptoms can prevent effective engagement with the grief process

When trauma symptoms are severe, stabilization and trauma processing are generally prioritized because trauma can act as a barrier to engaging in grief work.

Which intervention approach is recommended for individuals experiencing both PTSD and complicated grief following traumatic loss?

Answer: An integrated approach addressing both trauma and grief components simultaneously

Integrated approaches addressing both trauma symptoms and grief, such as Complicated Grief Treatment or trauma-adapted CBT, are recommended for co-occurring PTSD and grief.

In working with homicide survivors, a thanatologist should be aware that:

Answer: Legal proceedings, media coverage, and ongoing trauma can significantly complicate and prolong grief

Homicide survivors face unique challenges including legal proceedings, potential media exposure, ongoing safety concerns, and the traumatic nature of violent death.

What is CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) used for in traumatic death response?

Answer: Providing structured psychological first aid and support to individuals and groups after traumatic events

CISM is a comprehensive crisis intervention program providing structured support, including defusing and debriefing, to help individuals and groups process traumatic events.