The stress of unexpected bereavement

In a prospective interview study 28 relatives of sudden and unexpected deceased persons were approached for an initial interview. The investigation took the form of a process study with recurring interviews during the first two years after bereavement. Fifty per cent of the interviewees developed an anxiety grief with either pronounced symptoms or life‐restricting effects. Using the interview material the mourning process and grief reactions are discussed in relation to the following variables: guilt feelings, the separation process, defence mechanisms, seeing the dead body, visiting the grave, anniversary reactions, coping process and dreams.