Comparative Analysis of Suicide,Accidental, and Undetermined Cause of Death Classification |
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| Authors: | Douglas Gray MD Hilary Coon PhD Erin McGlade PhD William B. Callor BS Josh Byrd BS Joseph Viskochil MEd Amanda Bakian PhD Deborah Yurgelun‐Todd PhD Todd Grey MD William M. McMahon MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 (VISN 19), George E. Whalen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, , Salt Lake City, UT, USA;2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, , Salt Lake City, UT, USA;3. Brain Institute, University of Utah, , Salt Lake City, UT, USA;4. Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, , Salt Lake City, UT, USA;5. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah, , Salt Lake City, UT, USA;6. Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, , Salt Lake City, UT, USA |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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