Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 7 - Debriefing and body recovery: war grave soldiers

  • from Part II - Debriefing: models, research and practice
  • Edited by Beverley Raphael, New South Wales Health Department, Sydney, John Wilson, Cleveland State University
  • Book:
    Psychological Debriefing
    Published online:
    06 January 2010
    Print publication:
    12 October 2000, pp 108-117

  • Summary

    This chapter reviews what is known about the psychological impact of body recovery, and in particular the possible effects on soldiers whose role it is to recover the bodies of colleagues or those of the enemy. Any factors resulting in increased identification with the dead generally result in greater distress. Soldiers in the Gulf War who were required to remove the personal effects of enemy dead, including personal correspondence and photographs of family and loved ones, found the experience intensely upsetting. Most soldiers found handling their own comrades, particularly those who had died as a result of friendly fire, more distressing than handling enemy dead. Dead psychological debriefing in particular helps to reduce subsequent morbidity. There is ample evidence to suggest that training and preparation may significantly reduce the likelihood of long-term psychological squeal after body-handling duties.