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Cited by 187Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthFamily Support in IllnessHomicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Antecedents and Sequelae of Sudden Parental Death in Offspring and Surviving Caregivers

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Melhem, Nadine M., Walker, Monica, Moritz, Grace, Brent, David A.·2008·Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
DOI 10.1001/archpedi.162.5.403PMC PMC2654289
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the psychiatric antecedents that put parents at risk for early death, and the psychological sequelae of bereavement in offspring and caregivers. DESIGN: A population-based study. SETTING: Bereaved families were recruited through the coroner's records and by advertisement. Control families were recruited by random-digit dialing and advertisement. PARTICIPANTS: Families with biological offspring from 7 to 25 years of age in which 1 parent died of suicide, accident, or sudden natural death were included (n = 140). Controls (n = 99) had 2 living parents and their biological offspring and had no death of a first-degree relative within the past 2 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lifetime psychiatric history for deceased parents (probands) and new-onset psychiatric disorders, self-reported symptoms, and functional status in offspring and surviving caregivers. RESULTS: Bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and personality disorders are more common in probands who died of suicide or accident than in control parents. Bereaved offspring and their caregivers were at increased risk for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Bereaved offspring had a 3-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.3-7.0) increased risk of depression, even after controlling for antecedent and concomitant risk factors. Offspring bereaved by suicide showed similar outcomes compared with those bereaved by other types of death. CONCLUSIONS: Bereavement conveys an increased risk of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder above and beyond other vulnerability factors. Better integration of medical and psychiatric care may prevent premature parental death, but once it occurs, physicians should be alert to the increased risk for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in bereaved offspring and their caregivers.

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  • Preloss features include family and personal history of psychiatric problems, closeness of relationship, and having known about the suicide plan.

    “Preloss features include family and personal history of psychiatric problems, closeness of relationship, and having known about the suicide plan”

    From Pre- and postloss features of adolescent suicide bereavement: A systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as Melhem et al., 2008

    The Results (page unavailable) describe psychiatric histories before the death in parents, caregivers, and offspring, and discuss relationship closeness in connection with depression after bereavement. The paper does not address whether survivors knew of a suicide plan before the death (searched: suicide plan, prior knowledge of suicide intention). (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • A higher level of functioning of the remaining parent after the death, and self-esteem of the surviving adolescent were protective factors for bereaved adolescents.

    “a higher level of functioning of the remaining parent after the death, and self-esteem of the surviving adolescent were protective factors for bereaved adolescents (Melhem et al., 2008)”

    From Pre- and postloss features of adolescent suicide bereavement: A systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as Melhem et al., 2008

  • Personal history of depression and family history of psychopathology are related to new onset psychiatric problems after the loss.

    “personal history of depression and family history of psychopathology are related to new onset psychiatric problems after the loss”

    From Pre- and postloss features of adolescent suicide bereavement: A systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as Melhem et al., 2008

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Authors
Melhem, N. M., Walker, M., Moritz, G., & Brent, D. A.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
ORCID
Venue
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2008-05-01
Volume
162
Issue
5
Pages
403
ISSN
1072-4710 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.162.5.403
PMC
PMC2654289
OpenAlex
W1976292867
Cited by
187
References
13
Citations by year
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FWCI
13.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH65368, R01MH065368)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
Keywords
bereavement, parental suicide, accidental death, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, personality disorders, offspring, psychiatric risk factors
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Psychology, Adolescent, Adult, Mental Disorders, Bereavement, Child, Psychology, Child, Death, Sudden, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Parents, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Suicide, Case-Control Studies, Caregivers

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