Orphanhood in itself is not a trauma, but through concomitant factors it may have a traumatic effect on the orphan. Some special factors concerning basic problems of orphanhood are: idealization of the image of the lost parent, guilt feelings toward the dead parent, especially if his or her death occurred during the climax of the child's Oedipus complex, and hostility toward the surviving parent who may be felt to be responsible for the loss.

Identification with the dead parent may be the cause of hypochondriacal and phobic fears, or the loss may be the starting point for brooding about sickness and death, resulting in anxiety. Ambivalent feelings toward the dead parent may disturb all subsequent relationships with other people. Feelings of insecurity caused by the loss of the parent may develop into a clinging behavior, or into withdrawal and an overstressed emotional independence.