ABSTRACT
The Death Imagery Scale (DIS) was initially developed as a tool to help clinicians assess these various aspects of death imagery among traumatically bereaved families. In one of the first clinical reports detailing these imagined replays of dying events, Rynearson observed that, among a sample of 15 homicide survivors, all survivors described experiencing intrusive reenactment imagery characterized by vividly imaging the events of their loved one's dying. Rynearson also noted that this reenactment imagery often emerged in the form of nightmares, and, in many cases, survivors reported themes of attempting to save or rescue the victim in the context of these nightmares. The DIS consists of five items, each assessing a different facet of death imagery, including reenactment, rescue, revenge, reunion and remorse. Reinforcing resilience was an initial objective in her treatment before dealing with the intrusive visual and cognitive aftermath of the traumatic death.
