Citation

Rynearson EK. Omega (Westport) 2012; 65(3): 239-249.

Affiliation

Virginia Mason Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle 9811-0900, USA. edward@rynearson.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Sage Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23057248

Abstract

The homicidal death of a loved one is horrific. Dying from homicide can be more sudden, frightening, and stigmatizing than natural dying and may be followed by a sub-type of prolonged grief complicated by vivid narrative reenactment of the dying, intense feelings of remorse, and nihilistic despair. After a literature review of grief after homicide, the author clarifies the salient narrative themes of homicidal dying and their specific effects on trauma and separation distress. A preliminary model is then developed and illustrated in a therapy case outlining a technique (imaginative exposure) to diminish the disabling fixation of reenactment imagery, remorse, and despair.

Language: en