Mourning and milieu: staff reaction to the death of an inpatient.

Abstract

The staff reaction to the death from natural causes of a patient hospitalized on a psychiatric unit is described. The staff's response is conceptualized in terms of the stages of normal bereavement: denial, anger, depression, and resolution. Each stage is described and suggestions are given for its management. As with a suicide, a psychological autopsy can be conducted after a death from natural causes; an outline for such an autopsy is provided.