TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - Suicidal behavior in surviving co-twins
JO  - Twin research and human genetics
A1  - Pompili, Maurizio
A1  - Galeandro, Piera Maria
A1  - Lester, David
A1  - Tatarelli, Roberto
SP  - 642
EP  - 645
VL  - 9
IS  - 5
N2  - Recent research has provided strong support for the existence of a familial risk for suicide, and efforts have been made to separate genetic from enviromental risk factors. Twin studies have played a major role in the identification of genetic factors, and the results indicate that the concordance rate for suicide is higher in identical than in fraternal twins (Baldessarini & Hennen, 2004). Moreover, Segal and Roy (1995) reported a significantly higher frequency of nonfatal suicidal attempts by monozygotic (MZ) than by dyzygotic (DZ) twins whose co-twins had committed suicide. However, doubts remain as to whether the increased risk of suicide in MZ twins is a response to the intense grief over the loss of a close relative, or whether a common genotype is associated with suicidal behavior. Sudden loss, which may carry a stigma in the case of a suicide, has been linked to increased persistent emotional stress and physiological changes (Epstein, 1993; Martin & Dean, 1993). A number of researchers have reported greater suicidal ideation among bereaved MZ twins as compared to DZ twins, suggesting that a loss due to suicide may increase the risk of suicidal behavior in the surviving co-twin (Segal & Bouchard, 1993; Segal & Roy, 1995; Segal et al., 1995). The aim of the present article is to address the issue of the intense grief experienced by twins after the co-twin suicide.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1832-4274
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1375/183242706778553444
ID  - ref1
ER  -