|
Abstract
|
INTRODUCTION: Previous studies showed the psychotraumatic repercussion of a suicide attempt on the nearly entourage, especially when it was witnessed of the suicidal scene. However, factors influencing the onset of PTSD, has not been yet clearly identified.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The main purpose of this study was to highlight the link between the lapse of time of recontact since the suicide attempt and the occurrence of psychotraumatic symptoms on the significant others. The secondary purpose was to analyze the role of the sociodemographics factors, as the age, the sex, how they are related to the suicidal person, the history of suicide attempt, the place of hospitalization.
METHODS: Forty persons were included. They were living in the same dwelling as the person who was in hospital following a suicidal attempt, and witnessed of the suicidal scene or the calling of the assistance. They were recontacted by letter after three months, to gather the PTSD check list symptoms score.
RESULTS: The results show that 50% of the sample has significant psychotraumatic symptoms. The average time for recontact was 2.93 days. No significant link was found between the time for recontact and onset of PTSD. In the same way, we did not find psychotraumatic symptoms to be significantly associated with the age, the sex, the relationship to the suicidal person, the history of suicide attempt or the place of hospitalization.
DISCUSSION: PCL-s scores were significantly higher among the entourage when it was the first suicide case, which seems to be a category of vulnerable population for onset a PTSD. In that case, entourage should deserve increasing vigilance, according to the postvention principles, implemented for the close entourage of suicide victims. © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS
Language: en |