Citation

Szanto K, Shear MK, Houck PR, Reynolds CF, Frank E, Caroff K, Silowash R. J. Clin. Psychiatry 2006; 67(2): 233-239.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. szantok@upmc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Physicians Postgraduate Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16566618

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Complicated grief is associated with increased suicidal ideation in samples of bereaved individuals; however, suicidal behavior has not been assessed in these patients. Additionally, there are no reports of suicidality among help-seeking individuals with complicated grief. Therefore, we examined suicidal behavior and its correlates in 149 patients who signed informed consent statements to participate in a National Institute of Mental Health-funded treatment study of complicated grief. METHOD: All patients met criteria for complicated grief (Inventory of Complicated Grief score>or=25). Suicidality was assessed using a structured clinical interview administered prior to beginning treatment. Participants also completed self-report questionnaires and interview assessment measures rating the presence or absence of DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis and symptom severity. Data were gathered between April 2001 and April 2004. RESULTS: Thoughts of wanting to die following the death of a loved one were reported by 65% of participants. More than half of this group (38% of the study sample) engaged in self-destructive behavior, including 9% who made a suicide attempt and 29% who engaged in indirect suicidal behavior. In a multiple logistic regression model, only the severity of complicated grief symptoms (p<.0001) and history of a suicide attempt (p<.02) were significantly associated with postloss suicidal behavior. DISCUSSION: Consistent with reports of non-help-seeking bereaved people, a high rate of individuals seeking treatment for complicated grief endorsed a wish to die. Notably, 13% of this group made at least 1 suicide attempt, and 44% engaged in indirect self-destructive behavior. Given its frequency, this behavior should be included in assessment of bereaved people.