Growing through grief. Bereavement after parental suicide in a child with autism spectrum disorder: A clinical case

de LIz, Mariana Ferraz; Lopes, Ana Filipa; Antunes, Marta Pereira; Falcão, Mariana Lima; Araújo, Sara; Santos, Maria do Carmo

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.16/3813

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Authors

de LIz, Mariana Ferraz

Lopes, Ana Filipa

Antunes, Marta Pereira

Falcão, Mariana Lima

Araújo, Sara

Santos, Maria do Carmo

Abstract(s)

The impact of suicide on children remains unclear. Herein is reported the case of a seven-year-old boy who was referred for consultation for behavioral changes after witnessing his mother’s suicide. The main complaints were constant questions about death, emotional lability, and motor agitation. During bereavement-focused psychotherapy, some particularities in social functioning were noted, leading to the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The bereavement process following parental suicide is modulated by several factors. Understanding these factors in the context of the particularities of the ASD population has allowed for a better understanding of the individual challenges of children that warrant specific interventions.Much remains to be understood about suicide imprinting in surviving offspring, particularly in children with ASD for whom the bereave-ment process may be overlooked.