AUTHOR=Bellini Samantha , Erbuto Denise , Andriessen Karl , Milelli Mariantonietta , Innamorati Marco , Lester David , Sampogna Gaia , Fiorillo Andrea , Pompili Maurizio 

TITLE=Depression, Hopelessness, and Complicated Grief in Survivors of Suicide

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00198

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00198

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>Suicide often has a severe impact on the surviving family and friends. There is a need to better understand the psychological and psychopathological consequences of losing a significant other by suicide. The aim of the present study was to assess hopelessness, depression, suicide risk, complicated grief, intrusive memories, and avoidance in a sample of suicide survivors. In this observational study, 35 bereaved individuals were recruited at the Suicide Prevention Centre of Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome. Individuals were administered a series of validated instruments: the <italic>Beck Depression Inventory II</italic> (<italic>BDI</italic>), the <italic>Beck Hopelessness Scale</italic> (<italic>BHS</italic>), the <italic>Inventory of Complicated Grief</italic> (<italic>ICG</italic>), the <italic>Impact of Event Scale</italic> (<italic>IES</italic>), the <italic>Subjective Happiness Scale</italic> (<italic>SHS</italic>), and the <italic>Satisfaction With Life Scale</italic> (<italic>SWLS</italic>). Most survivors (62.8%) obtained high scores on measures of complicated grief. Scores on the measure of complicated grief were associated with intrusiveness of thoughts and memories, attempts to prevent the thoughts and emotions related to the event, depressive symptoms and hopelessness, and lower scores for feelings of happiness and satisfaction with life. A subgroup of suicide survivors may be at risk of severe psychological distress and suicidal behavior. Identification of these survivors is a necessary step for providing appropriate counseling and psychotherapy.</p>