Group Intervention for Widowed Survivors of Suicide

This study evaluates the effects of 2 group interventions, the Bereavement Group Postvention & the Social Group Postvention, on the bereavement outcomes in widowed survivors of suicide. 60 subjects were randomized to one of the groups for 1-1/2 hour weekly sessions over an 8-week period. Statistically significant changes were found on all measures when the groups were combined for analyses on posttreatment assessments at 3-5 days after completion of the group intervention, & 6 & 12 months after the intervention. Participants experienced a significant reduction in overall depression, psychological distress, & grief, as well as an increase in social adjustment. Further research with tighter controls of confounding variables as well as the inclusion of a no-treatment control group is indicated. (43 refs.)