On treating those bereaved by sudden, unanticipated death

A sudden, unanticipated death confronts the mourner not only with the loss of the loved one, but with personal traumatization resulting from the unexpected psychological assault brought by the event. Interventions necessarily must target the twin goals of trauma mastery and accommodation of the loss. This article delineates the specific issues inherent in sudden death that tend to complicate mourning and suggests treatment interventions to employ when working with a mourner confronting this type of loss. An in-depth case study is provided to illustrate the treatment process.