• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.623-641
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• 2016

The psychological autopsy is a method to estimate causes of suicidal death by collecting data from interviewing suicide victim's family added with additional life records. Recently, local governments and suicide prevention centers have been trying to implement psychological autopsy. but there is paucity of efforts examining the validity and effectiveness of the psychological autopsy. Therefore, this paper reviewed psychological autopsy studies and risk factors in Western and Asia countries. and then a methodology for the Korean version of psychological autopsy was suggested. After investigating the specific risk factors for korean suicide through psychological autopsy, then it can be possible to grasp the intervention point for effective suicide prevention. We also propose future directions for psychological autopsy study and interventions in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.55-81
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• 2015

With the psychological autopsy, an analytical method of backward reasoning for individual case of suicide, this study aims to investigate the causes and route of individual suicides in Korean rural areas, which has long had a bad reputation of world-wide high rate of suicide. The compound approach of the study which combines the psychological and socio-cultural aspects concerning suicide simultaneously, is able to make this study clearly distinguished from existing related inquires and results. Analysis of 25 suicide cases could make clear the typical characters of risky group of suicide in rural area and elucidate the obvious socio-cultural impact on suicide respective of several suicide type, for example, male and female elderly, homecoming youth etc. Then, the psycho-social interactive model to account for rural area suicide adequately could be established as a final result of the study. In addition, based on the findings of the study, several counter-plans to prevent the suicide-committing of the risky groups are suggested in short-term and long-term bases as well.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2015

This study is aimed to analyse the causes and characteristics of suicide in jeonbuk region using psychological autopsy. Psychological autopsy is a technique to get comprehensive analysis on suicidal death by collecting data from interviewing suicide victim's family, relatives, and friends added with additional data of police report, hospital records, and suicide victim's lifetime records for objective evidence. For the data from 42 cases(male 24, female 18) of suicides that occurred between May 2013 and April 2014 with agreement for psychological autopsy, we analyzed a survey that recorded by interviewers who had a consultation based on half-structured psychological interview panel. As the result, out of 42 cases, 30(71%) had previous suicidal attempts and 21(50%) had a family history of suicides. Psychiatric disorders(38%) was the most common cause of suicide followed by interpersonal problems(31%). Among psychiatric problems, depressive disorder was the most common. many suicide victims had previously received psychiatric treatments but discontinued the therapy later on. The results showed that suicide is strongly related to mental disorders and psychiatric therapy should be continued until full recovery. Preventive efforts should focus on persons who have a history of previous suicidal attempts and have a family history of suicide. Implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are advanced.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2014

Recently, local governments and suicide prevention centers have been trying to implement psychological autopsy. This effort has focused on adult suicide so far ; however, there are some difficulties in its application to adolescent suicide. Therefore, in this study, psychological autopsy studies of Korea were reviewed, and a methodology for adolescents' psychological autopsy was suggested. For the effective performance of the psychological autopsy in adolescent suicide, cooperation with each area of the government and implementation of bodies is necessary. In addition, the central system, which disseminates the standardized interview to the community and manages the data nationwide, should be prepared. Also, in order to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and to obtain various types of information, a structured interview should be adopted as the psychological autopsy, as well as considering the use of social media. Investigation of specific risk factors for adolescent suicide through psychological autopsy can enable determination of the intervention point for effective suicide prevention.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.75-99
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• 2023

The current study aimed to explore the suicidal behaviors and risk factors of completed suicides using psychological autopsy and use them as index variables to classify suicidal types. In addition, this study looked into the influential factors that affect each suicidal type. related to suicidal behaviors and suicidal risk factors by psychological autopsy. In addiction, the distinctions among the classes were analyzed. For this, psychological autopsies were conducted on the families and the close ones of 128 completed suicides. Then, the index variables were finally chosen for classifying suicidal types. The selected index variables for suicidal risk factors were mental disorders, suicide/self-harm, significant changes in physical appearance, marital conflict, adjustment and relationship issues at work/school, unemployment/layoff, jobless status and serious financial problems. The selected index variables for suicidal behaviors were expressing their suicidal attempts, writing suicidal notes, asking for help, the time/place/method of suicidal behavior, past suicidal/self-harm experience and the first person who witnessed the suicide. The Latent Class Analysis(LCA) and the 3-step method were used for classifying suicidal types. Then external variables(financial changes, cohabitation, existence of stressors, changes in stress level or relationships and family members with mental disorder/alchohol problems/ physical disorders, and work/school stisfaction) were applied for distinguishing classes. As a result, 5 classes(financial problems, adjustment problems, complex problems, psychiatric problems, and response to event[s]) were revealed on suicidal behaviors and 3 classes(residence- suicidal attempt- found by family, nonresidence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by acquaintances, residence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by family) were presented on suicidal risk factors. External variables such as gender, marital status, cohabitation, changes in relationships significantly differentiated among the 3 classes. Especially, class 3(residence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by family) tended to cohabit with others, were married, and had a significantly high level of interpersonal conflicts. When comparing the 5 classes of suicidal risk factors, auxiliary variables such as economic changes, cohabitation, stress, relationship changes, and family-related problems, and school/work satisfaction significantly differentiated the 5 classes. Especially class 3 (complex problems) experienced comparatively less family-related problems, but showed an aggravating level of personal stress. Suicial prevention strategies should be provided considering the characteristics of each class and the influential factors.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.20-30
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• 2006

An exhibitional suicide is a case of death that the purpose is to demonstrate one's own real intention for others. This exhibitional suicide has a few characteristics that are different from a suicide: seriousness of suicide intention, a method of suicide attempt, and the place of a suicide. In other words, an exhibitional suicide lacks suicide intention, uses a slower method of death, and attempts a suicide at the place which others can easily find. In this light, this paper ascertains that a fair number in poisoning deaths are an exhibitional suicide on the basis of the result of an autopsy by department of forensic medicine school of medicine, Kyungpook National University. The research also confirms that juveniles and women attempt a suicide as often as adults and men, and a great number of suicides are indeed an exhibitional suicide. In terms of a commercial law, many specialists see an exhibitional suicide as an accidental death. However, if we consider an exhibitional suicide as an accidental death, we cannot verify the authenticity of death in an accident. In addition, if we observe the purpose of insurance and suicide exemption period of insurance company, we rather get to know to distinguish an exhibitional suicide from an accident. According to the research, most of the exhibitional suicide results from little or no-relation with others. Therefore, a little interest from family, friend, and neighbor plays a pivotal role in preventing this suicide. Finally, an effort to build database concerning an exhibitional suicide by a psychological autopsy will help people access a plenty of statistical materials and facilitate further study about an exhibitional suicide.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2022

Objectives: Suicide is the major public mental health concerns all over the world. The comparison of suicide attempters and suicide completers could be the fundamental evidence for the suicide prevention. The aim of this study is to explore the differences between suicide attempters and suicide completers in terms of the stressors, suicide methods, and psychiatric diagnosis. Methods: Two types of secondary data were collected for the analyses. Data of the suicide attempters (n = 680) were gathered by intensive reviewing the medical records of Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Data of suicide completers (n = 11,722) were collected by the psychological autopsy data which were gathered by Korean Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Suicidal methods, psychiatric disorders and stressors before suicidal attempt were compared between suicide attempter and completers. Results: Suicide completers were older and male predominant compared to suicidal attempt. Hanging or gas intoxication were more commonly used in the suicide completion, while wrist cutting or drug intoxication were more common in suicide attempters. All types of stressors were found to be high in suicide completers than suicide attempters. However, the proportion of economic and physical stress were greater in suicide completers, while the proportion of family stress were greater in suicide attempters. According to the recorded diagnoses, the rates of depressive disorders, sleep-wake disorders, substance-related disorders were higher in suicide completers, while the rates of anxiety disorders and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, bipolar and related disorders and somatic symptom disorders were higher in suicide attempters. However, after controlling the gender and age, there were no significant differences in diagnosis between suicide attempters and suicide completers. Conclusion: These findings implicate that suicide attempters and completers differed in suicide methods and type of stress. The results suggests that economic stressors, physical illness might raise the risk of suicide completion.