Related Experiment Videos
Suicides hidden among undetermined deaths
1Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|October 7, 1998
Summary
Undetermined deaths in Finland, often involving poisoning or drowning, showed high suicidal intent. These cases, if classified as suicides, would increase the official suicide rate by 10%.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- The National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland investigated deaths suspected of suicide.
- Undetermined deaths were initially excluded from suicide analyses.
- This study focuses on a comprehensive analysis of these undetermined deaths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the characteristics and potential impact of undetermined deaths on suicide statistics.
- To determine the prevalence of suicidal intent and risk factors within undetermined death cases.
- To assess the effect of classifying undetermined deaths on the national suicide rate.
Main Methods:
- Medico-legal investigation and psychological autopsy of all deaths suspected of suicide.
- Analysis of 139 officially classified undetermined deaths (including 61 initially suspected suicides).
- Examination of causes of death, suicidal intent, prior suicide attempts, threats, and psychiatric diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Poisoning and drowning were the most common causes of undetermined deaths.
- Suicidal intent was identified in 87% of initially suspected suicide cases.
- Significant rates of prior suicide attempts (31%), threats (34%), depression (23%), and alcohol dependence (31%) were found.
Conclusions:
- Undetermined deaths share characteristics with suicides and may be underreported suicides.
- Excluding these cases may artificially lower the observed suicide rate.
- Proper classification of undetermined deaths is crucial for accurate suicide prevention strategies and statistics.