Suicide by sharp force injuries--a study in Oporto

A study was undertaken on suicidal cases due to sharp force injuries (cut and/or stab wounds) observed at the Northern Branch of the National Institute of Legal Medicine (Portugal) from 1997 to 2007. Its aim was to analyse the different wound patterns and the epidemiological and social factors that could be related to the suicide behaviour in these subjects, through the examination of autopsy records and information from the social inquiry. A total of 16 cases were found, with an age range from 19 to 79 years old (mean=55.6 yrs) and a male predominance (M=10; F=6). Symptoms of depression (or the clinical diagnosis itself) had been reported in 5 cases. A total of nine individuals had previously expressed some sort of suicidal ideation and eight had already attempted suicide. A kitchen knife was the most commonly used object (n=8). Fatal incised wounds were prominent (n=13) and the neck was the anatomical region more often fatally wounded (n=6). Tentative wounds, which are non-fatal, more superficial, cut or stab wounds, were found in 8 cases. Hesitation marks were observed in close proximity of the fatal wound in 6 cases.