[Grief and suicidal behavior after losing a close person in endogenous and neurotic reactive depression in advanced age].

Pathological reactions of mourning of 339 patients who are over 45 years old and who are being treated because of an endogenous, neurotic or reactive depression are investigated. In the case of 20 patients suicidal actions occurred in former years or before the present treatment after the death of their mother, father or husband or wife. Of essential importance are the reactions of the people closely about them, the setting-off of or the transition into an endogenous depression, a distinct dependence on the deceased and ambivalence of feelings, self-reproach and feelings of guilt, and the inability for or avoidance of conscious mourning. In the case of chronically suicidal patients the therapy turns out to be especially difficult, if a real work of mourning does not succeed.