Longitudinal Bereavement in Child Survivors of Paternal Suicide

This presentation describes a longitudinal assessment of Catholic children age 8-16 years whose father died by suicide. The study, comparing responses of bereaved child survivors from 2 assessments over a 2-year period, suggests that symptoms may be delayed & that traumatic symptoms may be enduring. It also suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder should be assessed in the surviving parent in order to consider the possibility of contagion. Study limitations are discussed.