Citation

Toulouse O, Laly F, Fornes P, Soussy A. J. Med. Leg. Droit Med. 2008; 51(4-5): 253-261.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Masson)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We retrospectively examined the socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of suicide by hanging victims, as well as information collected during the death scene investigations, of 247 suicides, over a period of 42 months, of which 87 were by hanging (35.22%). Other suicide methods were drug intoxications (23.07%), falls from great heights (21.52%), firearms (10.52%), drowning (4.85%), weapons with blades (1.61%), asphyxiation (1.61%), and being crushed by a vehicle (1.61%). The socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of the victims of suicide by hanging (A) were compared to those of other suicide methods (B): sex of the victim: (A: 74.71% were men; B: 65.59% were men); mean age (A: 46.63 years old; B: 49.84 years old), depression (A:60.92%; B: 53.12%), suicide attempts (A: 28.74%; B: 18.75%), chronic alcoholism (A: 6.90%; B: 8.75%), and psychosis (A: 1.15%; B: 11.25%). Concerning the data of the death scene investigation, our results are the following: on-site suicide letter: 25.25%; traumatic lesions found upon examination: 12.64%; decomposition: 6.90%, intensive care hospitalisation: 5.75%, ligature types: rope: 42.63%, non-precise: 17.13%, a belt: 10.34%, a scarf: 9.20% an electric cord: 6,90%, a dog leash: 3.45%, a sheet: 2.30%); autopsy request (A: 16.09%; B: 28.75%), occurred in the home (A: 70.11%; B: 52.50%). Psychotic patients did not seem to choose suicide by hanging. Hanging was mostly done in a private place, usually at home. Autopsy requests were mostly made for other suicide methods.

Language: fr

Keywords

adult; human; age; suicide; Suicide; Hanging; drowning; female; male; asphyxia; autopsy; alcoholism; depression; sex difference; psychosis; traffic accident; suicide attempt; hanging; article; major clinical study; controlled study; psychological aspect; gunshot injury; retrospective study; socioeconomics; drug intoxication; falling; intensive care; decomposition; Death scene investigations