Psychiatric Impact of the Loss of an Adolescent Sibling to Suicide

25 adolescent siblings of 20 adolescent suicide victims were psychiatrically assessed 6 months after the suicide, & compared to 25 matched controls. Siblings were much more likely to show a new-onset major depression subsequent to the suicide. Mothers of suicide victims, compared to mothers of controls, were also more likely to be depressed 6 months after the suicide. The development of a family-based intervention for families of adolescent suicides is recommended. (22 refs.)