A qualitative exploration of sensing the presence of the deceased following bereavement

• Main Author: Keen, Catherine
• Published: Lancaster University 2010
• Subjects: 155.937
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.552841

Grief is an experience that is common to most people following loss. Researchers have reported that people can often sense the presence of the deceased person as an aspect of their grief experience. The aim of the current review was to synthesise the results on the topic of sensing the presence of the deceased to provide a comprehensive over-view for practicing clinicians to be able to offer support to bereaved people who report these experiences. The studies were reviewed in terms of naming and describing the nature of the experiences, providing explanatory models to understand the clinical significance of these experiences, describing any cultural differences within these experiences, describing the personal impact of having the experiences and discussing how people who have these experiences can be supported. The review concluded that approximately half to three-quarters of bereaved people had an experience that the deceased was present in some way. However, there was conflict as to whether the experiences were seen as a normal part of the grief process or as a sign of distress and pathology. Bereaved people may be better supported if the stigma surrounding sense of presence experiences is reduced.