Associations between symptoms of prolonged grief disorder and depression and suicidal ideation

Abstract

Objectives

We examined associations between the severity of symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and depression and recent suicidal ideation among bereaved family members.

Methods

Individuals who survived the death of a family member 1–8 year earlier (N = 225) were surveyed using self-report measures in the cross-sectional study. Regression analyses were conducted to test the multivariable effects of PGD and depression symptom severity—including their interactive effect—on recent suicidal ideation among the full sample and subsample of suicidal ideators (n = 38).

Results

The severity of PGD symptoms was positively associated with frequency of recent suicidal ideation in the full sample and subsample of suicidal ideators. Depressive symptoms were positively related to suicidal ideation in the full sample; however, they were significant only in the presence of PGD symptoms in the subsample of suicidal ideators.

Conclusions

Severity of PGD and depression symptoms are positively associated with suicidal ideation among bereaved individuals, highlighting the need to attend to both PGD and depressive symptoms in understanding risk for suicidal ideation among bereaved individuals.