Citation

Dowdney L. Psychiatry 2008; 7(6): 270-275.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Medicine Publishing Company Ltd.)

DOI

10.1016/j.mppsy.2008.04.007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The expression of grief in children bereaved by the death of a parent or sibling is affected by their understanding of death and their developmental level. Most children are resilient when bereaved, and their adaptation is facilitated by positive and authoritative parenting. The outcome of the one in five children who develop psychiatric disorder is affected by their age, sex, parental mental health, and other family factors. The effectiveness of community interventions with bereaved children is considered. Although the majority of bereaved children do not require professional help, guidelines are given as to when referral to mental health services should be considered. Interventions need to take into account the cultural and religious beliefs of bereaved families. © 2008.

Language: en

Keywords

human; mental health; homicide; suicide; child; family; bereavement; parent; review; death; mental disease; priority journal; sibling; cultural factor; patient referral; religion; grief; bereaved children; interventions with bereaved children; parent and sibling death; resilience and pathology in bereaved children