TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Geographic proximity is associated with transmission of suicidal behavior among siblings
JO  - Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
A1  - Edwards, Alexis C.
A1  - Ohlsson, Henrik
A1  - Moscicki, Eve K.
A1  - Sundquist, Jan
A1  - Sundquist, Kristina
A1  - Kendler, Kenneth S.
SP  - 30
EP  - 38
VL  - 140
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of "contagion", or social transmission, in risk of suicidal behavior (SB) among siblings. <br><br>METHODS: We followed Swedish sibling pairs until one of them (S1; N=111,848) was registered for a suicide attempt or completion. We tested the effect of geographical proximity between siblings on risk of a first SB registration of S1's sibling (S2). To control for familial confounding, we conducted complementary analyses of sibling trios (N=701), comparing risk in different siblings as a function of their respective proximity to S1. <br><br>RESULTS: The best fitting model across sibling pairs included an effect of distance between siblings (HR=0.96, 95% CI=0.93-0.99). Hazard ratios declined quickly up to 25km and largely stabilized beyond 150km. Across all pairs, a larger age difference between siblings was associated with reduced SB risk (HR=0.96 95% CI=0.93-0.98). <br><br>FINDINGS were consistent within the sibling trios. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the concept of suicide contagion, risk of suicidal behavior subsequent to a sibling's suicide completion or attempt is higher as a function of sibling closeness. These findings are robust to potentially confounding familial factors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.<br><br>This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0001-690X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acps.13040
ID  - ref1
ER  -