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Witnessed Suicides
Author(s) -
McDowell Charles P.,
Rothberg Joseph M.,
Koshes Ronald J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1994.tb00746.x
Subject(s) - witness , interpersonal violence , psychology , poison control , suicide prevention , medicine , medical emergency , political science , law
Suicides that take place in the presence of others have not been the topic of systematic scientific inquiry. The so‐called witnessed suicides account for a small percentage of all suicides but offer a unique view into the dynamics of self‐destructive behavior. An epidemiologic and forensic description of 50 witnessed suicides drawn from a 15‐year series of over 1,000 cases is presented. A taxonomy is developed based on the role played by the witness and related to previous work on self‐destructive behavior and its motivation. Brief vignettes are used to illustrate some of the interpersonal dynamics associated with these deaths.