Citation

Mitchell AM, Kim Y, Prigerson HG, Mortimer MK. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2005; 35(5): 498-506.

Affiliation

Nursing and Psychiatry in the Health and Community Systems Department at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.2005.35.5.498

PMID

16268767

Abstract

While the prevalence of complicated grief has been demonstrated to be elevated in survivors of suicide, the association between complicated grief and suicidal ideation among adult suvivors of suicide has not been explored. The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between complicated grief and suicidal ideation in suicide survivors. The Inventory of Complicated Grief and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered to 60 adult survivors within 1 month of a death by suicide of a family member or significant other. Complicated grief was associated with a 9.68 (CI: 1.036, 90.417) times greater likelihood of suicidal ideation after controlling for depression, suggesting that syndromal complicated grief heightens vulnerability to suicidal ideation. Clinicians may provide more comprehensive assessments by recognizing the possibility of suicidal ideation in those with complicated grief.