Grief reactions of parental couples: congenital handicap and cot death.

This study addresses the grief reaction of parental couples to congenital handicap and cot death. It was thought that the two groups would be similar in their response patterns and follow the sequential stages that are described in the literature on grief and bereavement, but that they would differ in the intensity and duration of their grief. Results indicate that, in the short term, parents who have experienced a sudden infant death have higher levels of unresolved grief and that, overall, mothers experienced greater anxiety and depression than did fathers.