PTSD in surviving family members of drunk driving episodes: Victim and crime-related factors

Victims of drunk driving who die suffer an unnecessary and violent death, which intensifies the surviving family members' psychological response to the trauma. Grief models that elaborate stages of the bereavement process, although useful, are not helpful for measuring the biopsychosocial response to this type of death. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, is proposed as a dimension of the grief response. Victim and crime-related characteristics are compared to determine the associations between variables and the occurrence of PTSD symptomatology in victim and nonvictim groups. The results have assessment and treatment implications for mental health professionals who work with individuals and families.