Depression, Hopelessness, and Complicated Grief in Survivors of Suicide.

Samantha Bellini,Gaia Sampogna,David Lester,Andrea Fiorillo,Marco Innamorati,Karl Andriessen,Maurizio Pompili,Denise Erbuto,Mariantonietta Milelli

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00198

Abstract

Suicide often has a severe impact on the surviving family and friends. There is a need to better understand the psychological and psychopathological consequences of losing a significant other by suicide. The aim of the present study was to assess hopelessness, depression, suicide risk, complicated grief, intrusive memories, and avoidance in a sample of suicide survivors. In this observational study, 35 bereaved individuals were recruited at the Suicide Prevention Centre of Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome. Individuals were administered a series of validated instruments: the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), the Impact of Event Scale (IES), the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Most survivors (62.8%) obtained high scores on measures of complicated grief. Scores on the measure of complicated grief were associated with intrusiveness of thoughts and memories, attempts to prevent the thoughts and emotions related to the event, depressive symptoms and hopelessness, and lower scores for feelings of happiness and satisfaction with life. A subgroup of suicide survivors may be at risk of severe psychological distress and suicidal behavior. Identification of these survivors is a necessary step for providing appropriate counseling and psychotherapy.

Highlights

Suicide is a major public health problem, with more than 800,000 individuals dying by suicide annually (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014)
While levels of depression and grief symptoms can be elevated shortly after the loss, the risks of depression and complicated grief appear to decrease after the first year after the loss, and most symptoms have been found to disappear within 3 years after the loss, on average (Saarinen et al, 2000) or between 3 and 5 years (Feigelman et al, 2008–2009), indicating that risks of ill-mental health may subside after 3 years
The presence and severity of complicated grief was associated with more intrusive thoughts and memories (ρ = 0.60; p < 0.01) and avoidance of thoughts and emotions related to the event (ρ = 0.42; p < 0.05), more severe depression (ρ = 0.53; p < 0.01) and hopelessness (ρ = 0.54; p < 0.01), and less subjective happiness (ρ = −0.60; p < 0.01) and satisfaction with life (ρ = −0.57; p < 0.01)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Suicide is a major public health problem, with more than 800,000 individuals dying by suicide annually (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). While levels of depression and grief symptoms can be elevated shortly after the loss, the risks of depression and complicated grief appear to decrease after the first year after the loss (de Groot and Kollen, 2013), and most symptoms have been found to disappear within 3 years after the loss, on average (Saarinen et al, 2000) or between 3 and 5 years (Feigelman et al, 2008–2009), indicating that risks of ill-mental health may subside after 3 years It is well-documented that those bereaved by suicide who experience high levels of functional and social impairments, and psychological distress, experience barriers to helpseeking (Provini et al, 2000; Dyregrov, 2002). Given the potentially devastating effects of complicated grief on those bereaved by suicide it is crucial to assess their mental health

Aims

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

Findings

DISCUSSION