Psychological autopsy

Farberow and Shneidman pioneered the psychological autopsy while working at the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center in the 1950s. They developed the procedure after being asked by the Coroner to help identify the cause of death in equivocal suicides. The procedure was influenced by Farberow and Shneidman’s time studying suicide notes from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. Farberow ruled Monroe’s death a probable suicide after the investigation. The psychological autopsy method has been adopted by the United States Department of Defense and in 2002, psychological autopsies became a part of its training curriculum. The psychological autopsy has also been used to help determine the likelihood of suicide in criminal cases such as Jackson v. State and U.S. v. St. Jean and civil cases such as Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Terry. == Processes ==

The psychological autopsy was developed to help clarify equivocal deaths, or deaths without a clear or appropriate mode. Examples of equivocal death scenarios include drug-related deaths, autoerotic and self-induced asphyxia, vehicular deaths, and drownings. In psychological autopsies, mental disorders are also strongly associated with suicide. Intent is determined by analyzing information about the decedent collected from interviews with friends and family, along with information gained from the related forensic examination into the decedent’s death. Investigators usually look for details such as behavioral patterns in response to stress, recent changes in behavior, suicidal ideation, use of alcohol and/or drugs, and recent traumatic events. ==Ovenstone criteria==

European Union Agency for Railways uses so-called Ovenstone criteria to distinguish a death as a deliberate act. Also, the British College of Policing advises to use these criteria named after Irene Ovenstone to determine a suspected suicide. Irene Ovenstone introduced these criteria in 1973. She applied this method in the review of the verdicts in Edinburgh. The review revealed a potential under-reporting of suicide of 40.67%. These criteria are: • Suicide note, written or oral, where the intention is communicated and where the traffic incident supports a suicide • A traffic incident that indicates a suicide in combination with knowledge of • Recent suicide attempts • Recent indirect suicidal communication • Communication about committing suicide or having no reason to live • Ongoing mental illness or prolonged depression • Previous major traumatic life event • A traffic incident that strongly suggests a suicide == References ==