Da. Brent et al., THE IMPACT OF ADOLESCENT SUICIDE ON SIBLINGS AND PARENTS - A LONGITUDINAL FOLLOW-UP, Suicide & life-threatening behavior, 26(3), 1996, pp. 253-259
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.