Citation

Binik YM. Soc. Sci. Med. 1985; 20(7): 667-680.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

4012353

Abstract

Research and selected case studies concerning psychosocial prediction of sudden death are evaluated under three categories: sudden cardiac, sudden infant and sudden traumatic death. The psychosocial predictors reviewed include novelty-pre-exposure, control-helplessness, restraint, Type A behavior, life change, bereavement, denial, social support and contact, voodoo, psychiatric illness, mother infant separation, submission-defeat, housing, handling and environmental enrichment. Four of these predictors, controllability-helplessness, pre-exposure-novelty, depressive affect and physical restraint are repeatedly cited in both human and animal studies and their importance is critically evaluated.

METHODological and substantive recommendations for future research are made and a discussion of possible mechanisms is presented.

Language: en