THE IMPACT OF ADOLESCENT SUICIDE ON SIBLINGS AND PARENTS - A LONGITUDINAL FOLLOW-UP

The psychiatric sequelae of loss of a family member to suicide were ev aluated in parents and siblings of adolescent suicide victims and cont rols, who were followed up to 3 years after the suicide. Siblings did not show an increased risk for the development of depression, posttrau matic stress disorder (PTSD), or other conditions over the course of f ollowup, despite showing a prolonged elevated level of grief symptomat ology. Mothers showed an increased rate of recurrence of depression ov er follow-up, whereas fathers did not show an increased incidence of d isorder compared to fathers of controls. The interrelationship of bere avement and depression for siblings, parents, and others exposed to su icide is discussed.