Psychiatric Morbidity, Violent Crime, and Suicide Among Children and Adolescents Exposed to Parental Death

Wilcox, Holly C.; Kuramoto, S. Janet; Lichtenstein, Paul; Långström, Niklas; Brent, David A.; Runeson, Bo

doi:10.1097/00004583-201005000-00012

Cited by 109 publications

(167 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…15 It is known, however, that a parent's unnatural death, and particularly suicide, increases the risk of violent behavior, substance use disorders, serious mental disorders, and suicide in bereaved children. 16,17 Younger age at such exposure is associated with a higher risk of later suicide. 17 The risk of suicide and adverse events in children after the loss of one or both parents by IPF or IPF-suicide has, to our knowledge, not been studied.…”

Section: Offspring Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Killing the Mother of One’s Child

Lysell

Dahlin²,

Långström³

et al. 2016

J. Clin. Psychiatry

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Objective: To study possible psychiatric and criminological risk factors of intimate partner femicide (IPF) as well as the bereaved offspring's psychiatric morbidity and premature death. Method: We conducted a nested case-control study, based on Swedish national registries, including all perpetrators of IPF. We computed risk estimates relative to matched population controls, which were compared to those of non-IPF homicide offenders. Exposed children were matched to population controls and followed longitudinally up to 37 years. Offspring outcomes were psychiatric and substance use disorders (according to ICD) self-harm; violent crime; suicide; and premature, all-cause death. Results: We identified 261 male IPF perpetrators and 494 bereaved children from 1973 through 2009. Multivariable logistic regression suggested that major mental disorder (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.9; 95% CI, 3.3-10.6) and violent crime convictions (adjusted OR = 4.4; 95% CI, 2.7-7.2) were independent risk factors of IPF, but substance use disorders were not (aOR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-1.0). Children exposed to IPF before age 18 years had elevated risks of major mental disorder (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 5.7; 95% Cl, 3.0-10.6), substance use disorders (adjusted HR = 5.8; 95% CI, 2.8-11.9) and self-harm (adjusted HR = 5.7; 95% CI, 3.0-11.1). Offspring 18 years or older at the IPF had an increased risk of completed suicide (adjusted HR = 4.3; 95% CI, 1.3-14.5). Conclusions: Previous major mental disorder and violent behavior were strong independent risk factors for IPF. Bereavement caused by IPF had significant associations with the offspring's future life, especially for those below 18 years of age at exposure. Our findings demonstrate the need of direct support to the exposed offspring by health care providers and social services.

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Section: Offspring Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…16,17 Younger age at such exposure is associated with a higher risk of later suicide. 17 The risk of suicide and adverse events in children after the loss of one or both parents by IPF or IPF-suicide has, to our knowledge, not been studied.…”

Section: Offspring Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Killing the Mother of One’s Child

Lysell

Dahlin²,

Långström³

et al. 2016

J. Clin. Psychiatry

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“…Very few studies have addressed the effect of offspring age at exposure to parental suicidal behaviour on offspring outcome. One large study reported that exposure to parental death by suicide before 18 years was associated with increased likelihood of death by suicide compared to exposure at or after 18 years although the risk of suicide attempt and depression was not elevated in offspring exposed earlier rather than later (Wilcox et al 2010). This finding is consistent with evidence from studies on the impact of parental loss demonstrating that early exposure to adversity may be associated with greater risk of psychopathology (Agid et al 1999, Mortensen et al 2003.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Offspring age at exposure to parental suicidal behaviours may also modify the association between parental suicidal behaviours and offspring outcomes with limited existing data pointing to heightened vulnerability of those exposed at younger ages (Tsuchiya et al 2005, Wilcox et al 2010, particularly those exposed during early childhood (up to 5 years) (Kuramoto et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental suicide attempt and offspring educational attainment during adolescence in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort

2016

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BackgroundFew studies have investigated the impact of parental suicide attempt (SA) on offspring outcomes other than mental health. We investigated the association of parental SA with offspring educational attainment in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).MethodParental SA was prospectively recorded from pregnancy until the study children were 11 years old. National school test results (ages 11–16 years) were obtained by record linkage. Multilevel regression models quantified the association between parental SA and offspring outcomes.ResultsData were available for 6667 mother–child and 3054 father–child pairs. Adolescents whose mothers had attempted suicide were less likely than their peers to achieve the expected educational level by age 14 years [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41–0.95] in models controlling for relevant confounders, including parental education and depression. At age 16 years, adolescents whose mothers had attempted suicide were less likely to obtain the expected educational level (five or more qualifications at grade A*–C) (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.43–1.00) in models controlling for relevant confounders and parental education; however, after additionally controlling for maternal depression the results were consistent with chance (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.48–1.13). Findings in relation to paternal SA were consistent with those of maternal SA but power was limited due to lower response rate amongst fathers.ConclusionsMaternal SA was associated with diminished educational performance at age 14 years. Educational attainment during adolescence can have substantial effect on future opportunities and well-being and these offspring may benefit from interventions.

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“…Recent evidence has shown that unnatural death of a parent during childhood and adolescence has a stronger association with psychiatric sequelae than sudden natural parental death (Wilcox et al, 2010). War-related loss of the father during childhood or adolescence strongly contributes to distress and disability in adulthood: 22% of bereaved children and adolescents and 11% of non-bereaved war survivors met the criteria for a major depressive episode a decade after the war (Morina, 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Different Types of Childhood Adverse Experiences and Mood Disorders

Alciati¹

2012

Clinical, Research and Treatment Approaches to Affective Disorders

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Psychiatric Morbidity, Violent Crime, and Suicide Among Children and Adolescents Exposed to Parental Death

Cited by 109 publications

References 30 publications

Killing the Mother of One’s Child

Killing the Mother of One’s Child

Parental suicide attempt and offspring educational attainment during adolescence in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort

Different Types of Childhood Adverse Experiences and Mood Disorders

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