Suchergebnisse

Abstract. Background: Bereavement after a sudden death is associated with psychiatric sequelae including suicidal ideation and behavior. However, there is still uncertainty about whether bereavement due to suicide increases the risk for suicidal behavior more than bereavement due to other causes of death does. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate suicidal risk among sudden death-bereaved participants and to identify risk factors for suicidality that may be over-represented in those who are suicide-bereaved. Method: In total, 180 adult participants, half of whom had experienced the sudden death of a first-degree relative within the previous 5 years, completed self-report questionnaires assessing suicidal risk, symptoms of depression, somatization, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complicated grief, perceived social support, and demographic information. Results: Sudden death bereavement was associated with increased suicide risk even after adjusting for psychiatric symptomatology. Within the bereaved groups, the highest risk for suicide was among those bereaved by suicide, with additional contributions from depressive symptomatology, PTSD, somatization, lower perceived social support, and secular religious orientation. Limitations: The study was cross-sectional and bereaved participants had lost their loved one an average of 5 years before the assessment. Conclusion: These results are consistent with the conclusion that suicide bereavement is a risk factor for suicidal behavior.

Background: Relatively little is known about the role of protective factors in an Arab population in the presence of suicidal risk factors. Aims: To examine the role of protective factors in a subsample of in large Arab Kindred participants in the presence of suicidal risk factors. Methods: We assessed protective and risk factors in a sample of 64 participants (16 suicidal and 48 nonsuicidal) between 15 and 55 years of age, using a comprehensive structured psychiatric interview, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), self-reported depression, anxiety, hopelessness, impulsivity, hostility, and suicidal behavior in first-degree and second-relatives. We also used the Religiosity Questionnaire and suicide attitude (SUIATT) and multidimensional perceived support scale. Results: Suicidal as opposed to nonsuicidal participants were more likely to have a lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD) (68.8% vs. 22.9% χ2= 11.17, p = .001), an anxiety disorder (87.5% vs. 22.9, χ2= 21.02, p < .001), or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (25% vs. 0.0%, Fisher's, p = .003). Individuals who are otherwise at high risk for suicidality have a much lower risk when they experience higher perceived social support (3.31 ± 1.36 vs. 4.96 ± 1.40, t = 4.10, df = 62, p < .001), and they have the view that suicide is somehow unacceptable (1.83 ± .10 vs. 1.89 ± .07, t = 2.76, df = 60, p = .008). Conclusions: Taken together with other studies, these data suggest that the augmentation of protective factors could play a very important role in the prevention of incidental and recurrent suicidal behavior in Arab populations, where suicidal behavior in increasing rapidly.