Mass Trauma, Multiple Losses, and the Application of the Two-Track Model of Bereavement in the Context of War: Assessment From a Systemic-Ecological Perspective

Multiple losses in wartime, both death-related and non-death-related, require multidimensional assessment to encompass both the event and the multiple levels of interpersonal and societal involvements within which individuals are embedded. We present a case study in which the traumatic death of a family member is a central, but not exclusive, element in understanding the bereavement process. The traumatic death originated with the events of October 7, 2023 and the ensuing war which were part of an overwhelming surge of traumatic losses in Israel. The bereaved’s response met the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). We recommend that multiple losses and their unique significance for the bereaved should be directly addressed in the assessment and formulation of therapeutic interventions. Therefore, we propose an approach to clinical assessment in cases of mass trauma and multiple losses, grounded in the Two-Track Model of Bereavement and the Systemic-Ecological Perspective.