Quayle, Katherine;
(2021)
Exploring the nature of the phenomenon of intrusive mental imagery after suicide bereavement.
Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
Background: Each year millions of people are bereaved by suicide. Research has identified that people bereaved by suicide face an increased risk of adverse health and social outcomes, however still little is known about the subjective experience of those bereaved by suicide. Following a traumatic experience, such as suicide bereavement, the experience of intrusive mental imagery relating to the trauma is not uncommon, yet to our knowledge there is no research which explores the phenomenon of intrusive imagery experienced by those bereaved by suicide. Aim: This phenomenological research study aims to explore the nature, experience and impact of intrusive mental imagery experienced by people bereaved by suicide. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 18 people bereaved by the suicide of a close contact were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to explore patterns and themes within the data, with particular consideration of the content of the intrusive images, how people experience and relate to the imagery, and the impact that the experience of imagery has on those bereaved. Results: Analysis confirmed the occurrence of intrusive mental imagery, identifying common characteristics in the nature of imagery following bereavement by suicide. Whilst the majority of participants found the experience of intrusive imagery distressing or verbalised unhelpful aspects of the experience, paired with negative impacts and seeking ways to cope with the experience, participants also described positive attributes of the experience of intrusive imagery, such as supporting processing of their loss, post-traumatic growth, facilitating a connection with and providing memories of the deceased, that were of great value to them. Conclusions: The findings inform our understanding of the experience of people bereaved by suicide. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | D.Clin.Psy |
| Title: | Exploring the nature of the phenomenon of intrusive mental imagery after suicide bereavement |
| Event: | UCL |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2021. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10136052 |
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