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[Suicide investigation--a psychological autopsy]
1Psykiatrisk avdeling, Sentralsjukehuset i Rogaland, Stavanger.
Summary
Psychiatric teams face patient suicide, a major complication. Psychological autopsy, a structured group meeting, analyzes suicide factors and staff reactions, differing from psychological debriefing.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Patient suicide is a critical complication for psychiatric teams.
- Staff reactions to suicide resemble those of the bereaved, including denial, guilt, shame, aggression, and relief.
- Effective post-suicide management strategies are crucial for psychiatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and describe the method of psychological autopsy for managing patient suicide in psychiatric settings.
- To differentiate psychological autopsy from psychological debriefing.
- To highlight the long-term application of psychological autopsy in a clinical psychiatric ward.
Main Methods:
- Psychological autopsy involves structured group meetings.
- These meetings facilitate discussion of factors leading to patient suicide.
- Staff reactions are ventilated and analyzed within the group setting.
Main Results:
- Psychological autopsy allows for a comprehensive review of suicide incidents.
- It provides a platform for staff to process complex emotional reactions.
- The method has been successfully implemented for over 15 years.
Conclusions:
- Psychological autopsy is a valuable tool for psychiatric teams to address patient suicide.
- It aids in understanding and managing the aftermath of suicide.
- This structured approach supports staff well-being and clinical learning.