The British Journal of Psychiatry (2008) 193: 438-443. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040824
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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REVIEW ARTICLE

Interventions for people bereaved through suicide: systematic review

Catriona McDaid, PhD, Rebecca Trowman, MSc and Su Golder, MSc

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York

Keith Hawton, DSc, DM, FRCPsych

Centre for Suicide Research, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford

Amanda Sowden, PhD

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK

Correspondence: Dr Catriona McDaid, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York YO105 DD, UK. Email: cm36{at}york.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background

Promoting the mental health of people bereaved through suicide is a key aim of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Aims

To evaluate the effects of interventions to support people bereaved through suicide.

Method

We conducted a systematic review of data from controlled studies of interventions for people bereaved through suicide. Studies were identified using systematic searches, the methodological quality of included studies was assessed and narrative synthesis conducted.

Results

Eight studies were identified. None was UK-based and all but one study had substantial methodological limitations. When compared with no intervention, there was evidence of some benefit from single studies of a cognitive–behavioural family intervention of four sessions with a psychiatric nurse; a psychologist-led 10-week bereavement group intervention for children; and 8-week group therapy for adults delivered by a mental health professional and volunteer. The findings from studies comparing two or more active interventions were more equivocal.

Conclusions

Although there is evidence of some benefit from interventions for people bereaved by suicide, this is not robust. Further methodologically sound evidence is required to confirm whether interventions are helpful and, if so, for whom.


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