Witnessed suicides.
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.
McDowell
C P
CP
Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Bolling AFB, DC 20332-6001.
Rothberg
J M
JM
Koshes
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012931:Social Environment; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D014956:Writing