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Comparative Analysis of Suicide, Accidental, and Undetermined Cause of Death Classification
Author(s) -
Gray Douglas,
Coon Hilary,
McGlade Erin,
Callor William B.,
Byrd Josh,
Viskochil Joseph,
Bakian Amanda,
YurgelunTodd Deborah,
Grey Todd,
McMahon William M.
Publication year - 2014
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/sltb.12079
Subject(s) - accidental , suicide prevention , medicine , poison control , injury prevention , occupational safety and health , human factors and ergonomics , medical examiner , psychiatry , medical emergency , next of kin , pathology , physics , archaeology , acoustics , history
Suicide determination is not standardized across medical examiners, and many suspected suicides are later classified as accidental or undetermined. The present study investigated patterns between these three groups using a medical examiner database and 633 structured interviews with next of kin. There were similarities across all three classification groups, including rates of mental illness and psychiatric symptoms. Those classified suicide were more likely to be male, to have died in a violent fashion, and have a stronger family history of suicide. Chronic pain was very common across all three groups, but significantly higher in the accidental and undetermined groups.