The Effectiveness of Family-Based Cognitive-Behavior Grief Therapy to Prevent Complicated Grief in Relatives of Suicide Victims: the Mediating Role of Suicide Ideation

The presence of suicide ideation following suicide bereavement was examined to determine whether it indicates a high risk status. Using data from a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of cognitive-behaviour therapy, the effect of suicide ideation on the effectiveness of grief therapy on the bereavement outcome at 13 months post-loss was examined. Results show that suicide ideators more often have a history of mental disorder & suicidal behaviour than non-ideators, & suicide ideation indicates a high risk for adverse bereavement outcomes. Grief therapy likely reduces the risk of maladaptive grief reactions among suicide ideators. Therefore, suicide ideators may benefit from grief therapy following a loss to suicide. (57 refs.) JA