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Survivor guilt and chronic illness
1Liaison Psychiatry Unit, John Hunter Hospital, Hunter Region Mall Centre, New South Wales, Australia.
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Patients in chronic illness treatment units can experience survivor guilt after a peer’s death. Supportive psychotherapy can help manage this pathological grief and distress.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Bereavement in healthcare settings can trigger complex grief reactions.
- Chronic illness treatment units foster strong patient relationships, increasing vulnerability to grief.
Observation:
- Two patients with end-stage renal disease exhibited pathological grief and survivor syndrome after fellow patients died.
- Pre-existing unresolved mourning and strong camaraderie contributed to patient vulnerability.
Findings:
- Supportive psychotherapy facilitated grief resolution in one patient and provided some relief in another.
- The study highlights the 'survivor syndrome' in patients experiencing loss within a treatment milieu.
Implications:
- Healthcare professionals must recognize and address the significant distress caused by patient deaths in treatment units.
- Intervention for survivor guilt and pathological grief is crucial for patient well-being in chronic illness settings.