Inventory Of Traumatic Grief Research Articles

War Exposure, Peritraumatic Distress, Traumatic Grief and PTSD among Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Refugees living in Rwanda: Kigeme and Gihembe Camps

War Exposure, Peritraumatic Distress, Traumatic Grief and PTSD among Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Refugees living in Rwanda: Kigeme and Gihembe Camps Among Democratic Republic of Congo refugees living in Rwanda, at Gihembe and Kigeme refugee camps, the relationships between War exposure and Psychological disorders, and mediation role of Peritraumatic Distress between Traumatic Exposure and PTSD were studied. A sample consisting of One hundred thirty (130) DRC refugees, 74 males and 56 females aged between 15 and 65 years old participated in this retrospective study. Trauma exposure was assessed by Comprehensive Traumatic Inventory (CTI; α:0.97), Peritraumatic distress by Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI; α:0.92), current PTSD symptoms were assessed using PTSD Checklist (PCL; α:0.89), depressive symptoms by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; α:0.90), Traumatic Grief symptoms were assessed using Inventory of Traumatic Grief (ITG; α:0.87) and general psychiatric symptoms were measured by SCL-90 (α:0.95). A multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the contribution of these variables. War exposure correlated with PTSD symptoms, Peritraumatic distress, and general psychiatric symptoms (GPS). Peritraumatic distress symptoms among DRC refugees were influenced by witnessing abuse, injury (β=0.24; p=0.03) and displacement (β=0.22; p=0.02).The study shows that Depression among these refugees was associated with betrayal (β=0.29; p=0.02) and displacement situations (β=0.26; p=0.008). The Baron and Kenny procedure (1986) (including three separate regressions), along with the Sobel test, was used to test mediation effect. Peritraumatic distress mediates the relationship between Traumatic exposure and PTSD (the Sobel test statistic of 3.4; p˂0.000). War exposure is a complex situation, where PTSD results from trauma exposure and psychological distress.

How did partners experience cancer patients' participation in a phase I study? An observational study after a patient's death.

It can be assumed that patients' participation in a phase I study will have an important impact on their partners' life. However, evaluation of partners' experiences while patients are undergoing experimental treatment and of their well-being after the patient's death is lacking. We aimed to explore partners' experience of patients' participation in phase I studies and to investigate their well-being after a patient's death. This was an observational study conducted after the patient's death. Partners of deceased patients who had participated in a phase I study completed a questionnaire designed by us for experience evaluation and the Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Inventory of Traumatic Grief, and the RAND-36 Health Survey. The median age of the 58 participating partners was 58 years (range: 51-65), and 67% was female. Partners reported negative effects on patients' quality of life, but only 5% of partners regretted patients' participation. Approximately two years after the patients' death, 19% of partners scored for depression, 36% for psychological distress, and 46% for complicated grief, and partners generally scored significantly lower on social and mental functioning compared to normative comparators. Although partners reported negative consequences on patients' quality of life, most did not regret patients' participation in the phase I studies. Prevalence of depression, psychological distress, and complicated grief seemed important problems after a patient's death, and these must be considered when shaping further support for partners of patients participating in phase I trials.

Parents' Experiences of Pediatric Palliative Care and the Impact on Long-Term Parental Grief

ContextApproximately 25% of children diagnosed with cancer eventually die. Losing a child puts parents at increased risk for developing psychological problems. ObjectivesTo explore parents' perceptions of the interaction with health care professionals (communication, continuity of care, and parental involvement) and symptom management during the pediatric palliative phase, and to investigate the influence on long-term grief in parents who lost a child to cancer. MethodsA total of 89 parents of 57 children who died of cancer between 2000 and 2004 participated in this retrospective cross-sectional study by completing a set of questionnaires measuring grief (Inventory of Traumatic Grief), parents' perceptions of the interaction with health care professionals (communication, continuity of care, and parental involvement), and symptom management during the palliative phase. Care was assessed on a five point Likert scale (1=disagree and 5=agree). ResultsParents highly rated communication (4.6±0.6), continuity of care (4.3±0.6), and parental involvement (4.6±0.7) during the palliative phase. Parents' most often reported physical and psychological symptoms of their child during the palliative phase were fatigue (75%), pain (74%), anxiety to be alone (52%), and anger (48%). Higher ratings of parents on communication (β=−9.08, P=0.03) and continuity of care (β=−11.74, P=0.01) were associated with lower levels of long-term parental grief. The severity of the child's dyspnea (β=2.96, P=0.05), anxiety to be alone (β=4.52, P<0.01), anxiety about the future (β=5.02, P<0.01), anger (β=4.90, P<0.01), and uncontrolled pain (β=6.60, P<0.01) were associated with higher levels of long-term parental grief. Multivariate models combining the interaction with health care professionals and symptom management showed a significant influence of both aspects on long-term parental grief. ConclusionBoth interaction with health care professionals, especially communication and continuity of care, and symptom management in children dying of cancer are associated with long-term parental grief levels.

Traumatic Grief and Traumatic Stress in Survivors 12 Years after the Genocide in Rwanda

The relationship between exposure to traumatic events and traumatic grief and the role of mediating and moderating variables [peritraumatic distress, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and symptoms of depression] were studied in survivors of the genocide of Batutsi in Rwanda in 1994. One hundred and two survivors (70 women, mean age 45 ± 7.53 years) participated in this retrospective study. All of them had lost a member of their family. The severity of traumatic exposure (Comprehensive Trauma Inventory), peritraumatic distress (Peritraumatic Distress Inventory), current PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) and traumatic grief symptoms (Inventory of Traumatic Grief) was evaluated. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was then conducted to examine the relative contribution of each variable to the symptoms of traumatic grief. The severity of traumatic exposure was related to traumatic grief symptoms (B=0.06, R=0.6, R(2) =0.36 and ß=0.6, t=7.54, p=0.00). The Baron and Kenny procedure (1986) (including three separate regressions), along with the Sobel test, was used to test mediation effects. Peritraumatic distress and PTSD symptoms may be mediating variables between traumatic exposure and traumatic grief. Traumatic grief is a complex but assessable entity, where previous distress and suffering result from both psychological trauma and the loss of a loved one.

EVIDENCE FOR THE VALIDITY OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION'S CAREGIVER SELF‐ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE AS A SCREENING MEASURE FOR DEPRESSION

EVIDENCE FOR THE VALIDITY OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION'S CAREGIVER SELF‐ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE AS A SCREENING MEASURE FOR DEPRESSION

Long-term effects of the family bereavement program on multiple indicators of grief in parentally bereaved children and adolescents.

This article reports on results from a randomized experimental trial of the effects of the Family Bereavement Program (FBP) on multiple measures of grief experienced by parentally bereaved children and adolescents over a 6-year period. Participants were 244 youths (ages 8-16, mean age = 11.4 years) from 156 families that had experienced the death of a parent. The sample consisted of 53% boys and 47% girls; ethnicity was 67% non-Hispanic White and 33% ethnic minority. Families were randomly assigned to the FBP (N = 135) or a literature control condition (N = 109). Two grief measures, the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief and the Intrusive Grief Thoughts Scale (IGTS) were administered at 4 times over 6 years: pretest, posttest, and 11-month and 6-year follow-ups. A 3rd measure, an adaptation of the Inventory of Traumatic Grief (ITG) was administered only at the 6-year follow-up. Compared with the control group, the FBP group showed a greater reduction in their level of problematic grief (IGTS) at posttest and 6-year follow-up and in the percentage at clinical levels of problematic grief at the posttest. The FBP also reduced scores on a dimension of the ITG, Social Detachment/Insecurity, at 6-year follow-up for 3 subgroups: those who experienced lower levels of grief at program entry, older youths, and boys. These are the first findings from a randomized trial with long-term follow-up of the effects of a program to reduce problematic levels of grief of parentally bereaved youths.

Complicated Grief, Depression, and Anxiety as Distinct Postloss Syndromes: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Study

The authors used confirmatory factor analysis to replicate earlier findings that complicated grief, depression, and anxiety are distinct syndromes. Data were derived from 1,321 bereaved individuals. Complicated grief was measured with the Inventory of Traumatic Grief. Depression and anxiety were measured with the SCL-90. A model in which symptoms of complicated grief, depression, and anxiety loaded on separate factors was superior to a one-factor model, revealed good model fit, and was invariant across subgroups. Previous findings of a distinction among complicated grief, depression, and anxiety were confirmed.

Effects of euthanasia on the bereaved family and friends: a cross sectional study

Objective To assess how euthanasia in terminally ill cancer patients affects the grief response of bereaved family and friends.Design Cross sectional study.Setting Tertiary referral centre for oncology patients in Utrecht,...

Traumatic Grief as a Disorder Distinct From Bereavement-Related Depression and Anxiety: A Replication Study With Bereaved Mental Health Care Patients

Earlier studies have shown that symptoms of traumatic grief are distinct from those of bereavement-related depression and anxiety. This study was an attempt to replicate that finding. Data were derived from 103 patients. Traumatic grief was measured with the Inventory of Traumatic Grief. Depression and anxiety were measured with the Symptom Checklist. The distinctiveness of the three symptom clusters was determined with principal axis factoring. Symptoms of traumatic grief, depression, and anxiety clustered together in three distinct factors. These results confirm the previous finding of a distinction between symptoms of traumatic grief and symptoms of bereavement-related depression and anxiety.

Gender Differences in Traumatic Grief Symptom Severity after the Loss of a Spouse

Gender differences in bereavement outcome have received much attention in bereavement research in the past decades. While many studies have focused on depressive symptomatology and/or normal grief reactions, little attention has been paid to gender differences in symptoms of pathological or traumatic grief (TG). In addition, few studies have investigated gender differences beyond the acute grieving period. In the present study, cross-sectional data were used to explore gender differences in the temporal course of TG symptomatology. Data were derived from 270 spousally bereaved individuals who filled in the Inventory of Traumatic Grief on the Internet. Analyses of variance were conducted to explore differences in TG symptoms over time and between widows and widowers. No differences were found between men and women on the TG symptoms or the TG summary score, on any of the observational time points. With regard to the temporal course of TG symptomatology, indications were found that symptoms of separation distress are likely to subside over the passage of time, while symptoms of traumatic distress are unlikely to do so.

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE DUTCH VERSION OF THE INVENTORY OF TRAUMATIC GRIEF (ITG)

The psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Inventory of Traumatic Grief (ITG) were investigated in two studies with bereaved adults who had suffered the loss of a first-degree relative. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis indicated that the items of the ITG clustered together into one underlying factor. In addition, the internal consistency of the ITG and its short-term temporal stability were found to be high. In Study 2 it was found that the ITG exhibited adequate discriminative, concurrent, and construct validity. Furthermore, an ITG cutoff score for a diagnosis of traumatic grief was determined, with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 76%, providing evidence in favor of the predictive validity of the ITG.

PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DISTRESS AFTER SUICIDE, SIDS AND ACCIDENTS

This article compares the outcome and predictors of psychosocial distress of parents bereaved by young suicides, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and child accidents. One objective is to explore whether suicide bereavement is more difficult for those left behind than other forms of bereavement. Data have been collected from 140 families, consisting of 232 parents, by the use of the Impact of Event Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, and the Inventory of Traumatic Grief. Qualitative aspects of bereavement are assessed by in-depth interviews with family members from 40 families. The results show that the similarities between the samples on outcome and predictors are more striking than the differences, which is explained by the common traumatic aspect of unexpected and violent deaths. One and a half years post-loss, 57-78% of the survivors scored above the cut-off levels for traumatic grief reactions. Although no significant differences are found between survivors of suicide and accidents, both groups evidence significantly greater subjective distress than the survivors of SIDS. Self-isolation is by far the best predictor of psychosocial distress in all three samples. Rather than focusing on the exceptional position of suicide survivors, it seems important to call attention to sudden and traumaticdeathingeneral as a factor to be associated with post-traumatic reactions and complicated mourning.

RATES AND RISKS OF COMPLICATED GRIEF AMONG PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC PATIENTS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

The aim of this study was to determine rates and risks of Complicated Grief (CG) among psychiatric clinic patients in Karachi, Pakistan.The Inventory of Traumatic Grief , an early version of the Inventory of Complicated Grief--Revised, was administered to 151 recently bereaved patients, with validated criteria applied to determine CG ''caseness.'' Thirty-four percent of the sample met criteria for CG. Although violent deaths did not pose a heightened CG risk, gender and kinship to the deceased did significantly increase the likelihood of meeting criteria for CG.

Acetonuria Rare

<h3>Abstract</h3> <b>Objective</b> To assess how euthanasia in terminally ill cancer patients affects the grief response of bereaved family and friends. <b>Design</b> Cross sectional study. <b>Setting</b> Tertiary referral centre for oncology patients in Utrecht, the Netherlands. <b>Participants</b> 189 bereaved family members and close friends of terminally ill cancer patients who died by euthanasia and 316 bereaved family members and close friends of comparable cancer patients who died a natural death between 1992 and 1999. <b>Main outcome measures</b> Symptoms of traumatic grief assessed by the inventory of traumatic grief, current feelings of grief assessed by the Texas revised inventory of grief, and post-traumatic stress reactions assessed by the impact of event scale. <b>Results</b> The bereaved family and friends of cancer patients who died by euthanasia had less traumatic grief symptoms (adjusted difference −5.29 (95% confidence interval −8.44 to −2.15)), less current feeling of grief (adjusted difference 2.93 (0.85 to 5.01)); and less post-traumatic stress reactions (adjusted difference −2.79 (−5.33 to −0.25)) than the family and friends of patients who died of natural causes. These differences were independent of other risk factors. <b>Conclusions</b> The bereaved family and friends of cancer patients who died by euthanasia coped better with respect to grief symptoms and post-traumatic stress reactions than the bereaved of comparable cancer patients who died a natural death. These results should not be interpreted as a plea for euthanasia, but as a plea for the same level of care and openness in all patients who are terminally ill.