The impact of parental suicide on child and adolescent offspring.
Child and adolescent survivors of parental suicide experience two stressful events simultaneously: (1) the loss of a primary caregiver, and (2) suicidal death of a significant person. These youths are thought to be at increased risk for mental health problems, but a systematic review of studies on these survivors has not yet been conducted. A comprehensive search for published literature identified nine studies. The existent studies provided modest yet inconsistent evidence on the impact of parental suicide on offspring psychiatric and psychosocial outcomes. More methodologically rigorous research is needed to inform and guide postvention efforts for these survivors.
Janet Kuramoto
S
S
Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopskin University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Brent
David A
DA
Wilcox
Holly C
HC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult