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Related Experiment Videos

500 psychological autopsies.

R E Litman1

  • 1University of California at Los Angeles.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|May 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study reviewed 500 psychological autopsies to identify key factors distinguishing suicide from accidental deaths. Lifestyle, stress, and prior behaviors significantly influence this determination.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Psychology
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Determining the manner of death in equivocal cases (suicide vs. accident) is complex.
  • Psychological autopsies are crucial investigative tools in these challenging cases.
  • Legal standards like 'preponderance of the evidence' guide decisions, but practical application varies.

Observation:

  • A review of 500 psychological autopsies was conducted.
  • Factors influencing the suicide versus accident determination were analyzed.
  • The relative importance of factors differed based on the method of death.

Findings:

  • Significant indicators for suicide included lifestyle, recent stressors, suicidal communications, prior self-harm, and a history of depression.
  • Physical evidence, such as high blood drug levels, also played a role.

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  • The 'most credible scenario' approach often supersedes strict legal guidelines in practice.

    • Implications:

    • Understanding these factors can improve the accuracy of death investigations.
    • This research aids coroners, medical examiners, and legal professionals in suicide determination.
    • Findings highlight the need for comprehensive psychological assessments in equivocal death cases.