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Cited by 74Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesDeath, Funerary Practices, and Mourning

Suicidal ideation in bereavement: A systematic review

Open access
Molina, Nicolette, Viola, Martin, Rogers, Madeline, Ouyang, Daniel, Gang, James, Derry, Heather, Prigerson, Holly G.·2019·Behavioral Sciences
DOI 10.3390/bs9050053PMC PMC6562884
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Abstract

Background: Bereavement is associated with impaired mental health, increases in adverse health behaviors, and heightened risk of suicidal ideation, attempts, and death by suicide. The purpose of this literature review was to explore associations between cause of death and suicidal thoughts among bereaved individuals. Our aim was to compare incidence of suicidal ideation by cause of death and identify gaps in this literature to guide future research and clinical intervention. Methods: PRISMA-P guidelines were used to structure an electronic literature search in the PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. The search focused on English language studies that were published before February 2019 and sought to compare rates of suicidal ideation among bereaved people who lost a loved one to suicide, accidental overdose, cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and HIV/AIDs. Results: Nine articles were identified with suicide as cause of death, zero articles for accidental overdose, zero articles for cardiovascular disease, seven articles for cancer, one article for dementia, and one article for HIV/AIDs. Given the limited number of articles generated by our search, a formal meta-analysis was not appropriate. However, a comparison of results did suggest that suicide bereavement was associated with the highest rates of suicide ideation (14.1% to 49%). Stigma, isolation, avoidance behaviors, and psychological distress were associated with suicidal thoughts among bereaved individuals, regardless of the deceased’s cause of death. Conclusions: Findings of this literature search revealed significant gaps in the literature, especially regarding thoughts of suicide in bereaved survivors of accidental overdose and cardiovascular disease. Results suggest that multiple causes of death are associated with suicidal ideation in bereavement, but that suicide bereavement may be the cause of death associated with the highest risk of suicidal ideation. More research is needed to understand the ways in which cause of death influences prevalence, risk, and protective factors associated with suicidal thoughts among bereaved individuals.

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  • The loss of a first-degree family member significantly increases the risk of mortality, disease, and suicide for the mourner.

    “The loss of a first-degree family member significantly increases the risk of mortality, disease, and suicide for the mourner (2–6).”

    From Ayahuasca-assisted meaning reconstruction therapy for grief: a non-randomized clinical trial protocol (2025) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Introduction links bereavement to increased cardiovascular risk and mortality, and says elevated suicide risk may also be associated with it. It does not establish a statistically significant increase in all three outcomes specifically after the loss of a first-degree family member; the suicide association is qualified as possible. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [46]Joiner T.E. Why People Die by Suicide Harvard University Press Cambridge, MA, USA 2005

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Authors
Molina, N., Viola, M., Rogers, M., Ouyang, D., Gang, J., Derry, H., & Prigerson, H. G.
Affiliations
  • The American Institute for Cognitive Therapy, New York, NY 10022, USA
  • Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Molina, Nicolette
ORCID
Venue
Behavioral Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2019-05-14
Volume
9
Issue
5
Pages
53
ISSN
2076-328X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/bs9050053
PMC
PMC6562884
OpenAlex
W2946298107
Cited by
74
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4
FWCI
1.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Behavioral Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (AG049666)
  • National Cancer Institute (CA197730, CA218313)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
Keywords
suicidal ideation, bereavement, suicide bereavement, causes of death, accidental overdose, cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, stigma, social isolation, psychological distress

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