Locked-in your heart-shaped box: Familial-role and attachment orientation as predictors of grief in prolonged disorders of consciousness vs. death

Abstract

Death or prolonged disorders of consciousness (DOC) of a loved one are both considered relational-losses that severely disrupt attachment-bonds. Grief in both conditions was compared by exploring the impact of familial-role and attachment-orientation. In DOC, caregivers’ grief was found significantly intensified relative to Death. Familial-role impacted grief in both conditions alike, with partners' heightened grief in DOC reflecting the complexity of their stagnant bonds. In Death, avoidance-attachment mitigated grief, while in DOC anxiety-attachment accentuated grief, we suggest that while physical-separation in death facilitates the modification of continuing attachment-schema, in DOC, modification may be required while the patient is still alive.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.