Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102444

Diane A. Kempson, MSW, PhD, Division of Social Work, University of Wyoming, P.O. Box 3632, Ross Hall 111, Laramie, WY 82071-3632, 307-766-2516, dkempson@uwyo.edu

Nineteen percent of the adult population has experienced the death of a child, making them a sizeable population at risk for unresolved grief and trauma. Recent research suggests that trauma and profound grief may result in an inability of the person to attach words to the visceral experience of their trauma or grief. In addition, asking the traumatized person to use cognitive abilities to attach words to the trauma may be re-traumatizing for the person. Bereaved parents represent a population who face extended grief and trauma over time. Bereaved mothers were chosen for this study as mothers have been found to be at greater risk for on-going complicated grief or trauma than fathers. This author's research with mothers whose children had died in the previous five years demonstrated a correlation between an alternative touch intervention and decrease in despair, somatization, and depersonalization. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) reflected statistically significant effects of intentional touch therapy on despair (F=8.290, p=.006), depersonalization (F=4.904, p=.031), and somatization (F=6.833, p=.012). This study, along with numerous other new studies regarding treatment for profound grief and trauma, suggest that we as mental health care professionals need to consider referrals for concurrent alternative treatments in promoting the health and resolution of grief.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the effects of intentional touch therapy on grieving mothers.
• Recognize the neurological components of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Articulate the value of using alternative therapies with bereaved mothers.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Mental Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.