The Psychological Autopsy: Methodological Considerations for the Study of Adolescent Suicide

Brent, David A.; Perper, Joshua A.; Kolko, David J.; Zelenak, Janice P.

doi:10.1097/00004583-198805000-00016

Cited by 160 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Finally, albeit the autopsy=narrative study can provide important insights into the suicidal state of mind, it should be borne in mind that much of the information was obtained after the suicide had already taken place. This inherent shortcoming could have caused a bias in the perception and interpretation given by the informants (although see Brent et al, 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the studies of Brent et al (1988) have dissipated these concerns, noting similarities between the reporting of symptoms in depressed completers and depressed patients, and finding no association between time lag and parental reporting of psychiatric symptoms of suicide victims, and no association between existence of an affective disorder in the reporting parent and the information given during the interview. Thus, psychological autopsy is a valid and useful tool to address completed suicide.…”

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confidence: 99%

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A Chronological Perspective on Suicide—The Last Days of Life

et al. 2007

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A combined psychological autopsy and narrative approach was used to study the completed suicides of 67 Israeli soldiers. Three issues were addressed. First, the authors examined the typology of the life narratives of suicide completed during active army duty. Second, focusing on the last 3 weeks of the soldiers' lives, they sought to examine their triggers for suicide, emotional state of mind, army duty functioning, and communication of suicidal intent. Finally, they examined military responses to communication of intent, help provision, and help acceptance. Four types of narratives were identified: regressive, stable, tragic (progression and sudden collapse), and romantic (ups and downs). During the last days of life, suicide completers exhibited a split between an emotional state of mind (evidencing an emotional deterioration) and a behavioral military functioning, which was mostly stable. The analysis also revealed a resistance to receive help and a resistance to provide help, both of which impeded intervention. The gap between functioning and emotional distress in suicidal individuals and the incongruence between crisis and help are highlighted. The need to educate military personnel to look beyond duty functioning and the need to develop clear guideline about referrals to professional helps are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

A Chronological Perspective on Suicide—The Last Days of Life

et al. 2007

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“…Several other authors (e.g. Brent et al 1988;Fisher & Shaffer 1984) have reported methodological concerns about studies based solely on self-reports such as psychological autopsies, since the recall bias of an unknown character is an inevitable part of the methodology. However, despite methodological problems inherent in conducting retrospective interview studies, consistent results have been obtained in other areas.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Å sgård 1990, Gould & Kramer 2001;Hultén & Wasserman 1998;Runeson, Beskow, & Waern 1996). These researchers have developed techniques to reconstruct the process leading to suicide attempts and to identify related risk communication (Brent, Perper, Kolko, & Zelenak 1988). Suicidal communication has been divided into two major categories Á/ verbal (direct and indirect) and non-verbal (direct and indirect) communication (Hultén & Wasserman 1998;Wolk-Wasserman 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The violence relapse process – a qualitative analysis of high-risk situations and risk communication in mentally disordered offenders

Haggård-Grann

Gumpert

2005

Psychology, Crime & Law

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Approximately 45% of mentally disordered offenders relapse into violence. Although much is known about factors related to the risk of future violence, the violence relapse process is still in many aspects an unexplored area. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge of the recidivism process and risk communication of the repeatingly violent mentally disordered offender. A qualitative study using open-ended, semi-structured interviews was conducted with 14 mentally disordered offenders who had relapsed into violent behaviour. Important risk markers, pointed out by the informants, such as separations, drug problems, homelessness, and lack of sleep, were presented in a situational context. All but one of the informants were of the opinion that they directly or indirectly had communicated their violent intent or the experience of an intolerable situation. These results may help practitioners to target interventions and prevent further violence.

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“…Developed in the 1950s, the psychological autopsy method incorporated interviews with the relatives, friends, and professionals associated with the suicide victim (Beskow, Runeson, & Asgard, 1991). Providing the means to determine psychiatric disturbances among victims in addition to the nature and frequency of diagnoses and stressors, this psychological tool has become the foundation of retrospective studies (Beskow & Asgard, 1990;Brent, Perper, Kolko, & Zelenak, 1988;Shafii, Carrigan, Whttinghill & Derrick, 1985). The technique of psychological autopsy, evolving over the past 37 years, includes interviews with the family, friends, co-workers, clergy, teachers, and health care providers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Synthesis: Adolescent Suicide and Substance Abuse in the United States, 1990–2002

Dougherty

2007

Journal of Addictions Nursing

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The purpose of this research synthesis was to analyze the research conducted in the domain of adolescent suicide and substance abuse through studies in the United States between 1990 and 2002. A systematic examination for research focus, hypotheses, research and analytic design, sample, validity and reliability of instrumentation, variables and accompanying study outcomes, strengths, and limitations was conducted on 19 adolescent suicide studies. The Research Analysis Tool (RAT) developed by Moody, Wilson, Smyth, Schwartz, Tittle, and VanCott (1988) was used for data organization.

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The Psychological Autopsy: Methodological Considerations for the Study of Adolescent Suicide

Cited by 160 publications

References 15 publications

A Chronological Perspective on Suicide—The Last Days of Life

A Chronological Perspective on Suicide—The Last Days of Life

The violence relapse process – a qualitative analysis of high-risk situations and risk communication in mentally disordered offenders

Research Synthesis: Adolescent Suicide and Substance Abuse in the United States, 1990–2002

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