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A Bethe-Salpeter equation for the three-particle correlation function is derived, representing a second-order response generalization of the usual Bethe-Salpeter equation. The equation can be solved formally, giving the three-particle correlation function in terms of the two-particle correlation function and many-body interaction kernels. The similarity to second-order response time-dependent density-functional theory can be used to improve the understanding of the higher-order exchange and correlation kernels of this theory. An exact expression for such a kernel is derived.