Loss-Related Characteristics and Symptoms of Depression, Prolonged Grief, and Posttraumatic Stress Following Suicide Bereavement

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of the present study was to examine symptom classes of major depressive disorder (MDD), prolonged grief disorder (PGD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of suicide-bereaved individuals, while accounting for loss-related characteristics. (2) Methods: A latent class analysis was conducted to identify classes of the suicide bereaved, sharing symptom profiles, in a German suicide-bereaved sample (N = 159). (3) Results: Our analyses revealed three main classes: a resilient class (16%), a class with high endorsement probability for PGD symptoms (50%), and a class with high endorsement probability for combined PGD/PTSD symptoms (34%). Prolonged grief and intrusive symptoms emerged across all classes, while MDD showed low endorsement probability. Our results indicate an association between class membership and time passed since the loss; however, this applies only to the comparison between the PGD and the resilient class, and not for the PGD/PTSD class. (4) Conclusions: Our results may provide information about the predictability of symptom clusters following suicide bereavement. The findings also represent a significant step towards tailoring treatments based on the needs of relevant suicide-bereaved subgroups through a symptom-level approach. Time passed since loss might explain differences between symptom clusters.

Reaksi Berduka Pada Penyintas Kehilangan Bunuh Diri: Laporan Kasus

“…Individu yang berduka akan menggunakan mekanisme koping sesuai dengan kebiasaan, karakteristik dan nilai kultural yang dianut. (17)(18)(19)(20) Tidak ada perbedaan bermakna dalam penggunaan mekanisme koping pada penyintas kehilangan bunuh diri. (17,21)…”

What Do We Know about Suicide Bereavement, and What We Can Do to Help Suicide-Loss Survivors?

“…Several studies in our Special Issue examined deleterious and long-term effects of suicide bereavement. In a latent class analysis, Grafiadeli and colleagues [ 24 ] found that about half of the examined population showed elevated prolonged grief disorder symptoms, and one-third of the sample also showed PTSD symptoms. In a six-year longitudinal study, Levi-Belz and Brinbaum [ 15 ] highlighted that suicide bereavement facilitated higher levels of depression and suicide ideation.…”