Long-term impact of exposure to suicide: a three-year controlled follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term impact of exposure to suicide on the friends of adolescent suicide victims.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-six friends of suicide victims and unexposed community controls were followed up at periodic intervals up to 3 years after the suicide, using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Epidemiologic and Present Episode versions, to assess current and incident psychopathology.


RESULTS
The incidence of suicide attempts was comparable between groups over the entire follow-up period, despite higher rates of baseline and incident psychopathology in the exposed group. An increased incidence of depression and anxiety was found in friends that was most marked in the first 6 months of follow-up. An increased incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in those exposed was seen in the early as well as the later periods of follow-up. Those exposed youths who knew the suicide plans of the suicide victim were at the greatest risk for incident depression and PTSD over the entire course of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to suicide does not result in an increased risk of suicidal behavior among friends and acquaintances, but it has a relatively long impact in terms of increased incidence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Brent
D A
DA
Child Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA.
Moritz
G
G
Bridge
J
J
Perper
J
J
Canobbio
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention