Can Psychological Autopsy Answer Questions After a Suicide?

As the Burari case remains shrouded in mystery, cops consider psychological autopsy. Here’s a look.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

The alleged suicide of 11 members of a family in Burari, Delhi has left several unanswered questions in its wake. While speculations around the death continue to multiply, reportedly cops are considering to opt for a psychological autopsy.

Since the tragedy is clouded in uncertainty, authorities consider this a method to achieve some clarity as to what led the family to take such drastic measures.

Here’s a quick breakdown of psychological autopsy.

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Psychological Autopsy: The Whys and Hows

In theory, psychological autopsy is an attempt to dissect the thoughts and psychology that led a person to attempt something as extreme as suicide.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) points out that it involves collecting information and data from family and friends of the person in question.

The method involves collecting all available information on the deceased via structured interviews of family members, relatives or friends as well as attending health care personnel. In addition, information is collected from available health care and psychiatric records, other documents, and forensic examination. Thus a psychological autopsy synthesizes the information from multiple informants and records.

The NCBI

Broadly, there are two methods of approaching this. In one case, if suicide is performed by a patient of a psychiatrist or psychologist, the doctor can go back to re-assess their treatment. It might help them achieve some form of conclusion about what led to it.

“Psychological autopsy refers to an attempt to determine if any emotional or psychological factors caused/contributed to a suicide.”(Photo: iStockphoto)

The second approach is when the person in question was not under any mental health treatment, and thus facts and circumstances are murkier and there is less possibility of evidence, as in the Burari case. In such a situation, authorities might choose to speak to neighbours, friends and other family members to assess what could have led to the suicide.

Putting it in simpler terms, Dr Sameer Malhotra, psychiatrist at Max Hospital, New Delhi, describes it in the following manner:

Psychological autopsy refers to an attempt to determine if any emotional or psychological factors caused/contributed to a suicide.

Dr Samir Parikh, psychiatrist at Fortist Healthcare, further adds that this method is employed mostly in the cases of “equivocal deaths”, where the cause of death is “ambiguous, as to whether the individual committed suicide or not”.

(Additionally), this method may be used to clarify the cause of death in both individual cases as well as in interconnected cases, such as clusters of suicide. It was first used in 1987 in a criminal case in Florida, where a mother was charged with contributing to the suicide of her daughter.

Dr Samir Parikh

A Closer Look at the Process

According to Forensic Psychology.com, the information that is collected is based on the following parameters:

• Biological information - this includes age, marital status and occupation.
• Personal information - this refers to relationships, lifestyle, substance consumption/abuse, any potential stress or stressors
• Secondary information - this includes family history and any paper trails left behind in the form of police records or diaries or notebooks. This might also include psychiatric records and any other forensic reports.

Dr Malhotra affirms this and says:

It requires analysis of circumstances preceding the death. Information is gathered through all possible sources with respect to one’s belief systems, emotional and behavioural symptoms. Personal records/diaries/notes are also explored in the process. It reviews information from family, friends, employers and any treatment records.

“It requires analysis of circumstances preceding the death.”(Photo: iStockphoto)

How Does Psychological Autopsy Differ From a Regular Investigation?

Effectively, how does this differ from a regular investigation? Is psychological autopsy simply a fancy term for investigation? And does it help one derive a clearer picture of the situation?

Dr Malhotra says yes.

It helps one understand the circumstances and mind set of the person that could have led to his/her suicide.

Dr Malhotra

However, not all agree. British psychologist David Canter, who is known for his work in forensic psychology, disagrees and maintains that very little substantial evidence is available in this realm to reach any definitive conclusions.

His book Investigative Psychology does a deep-diving analysis of investigative psychology and the decision making abilities of individuals under specific conditions.

In a similar strain, Dr Parikh also comments on the uncertainty of the process.

Psychological autopsies are mainly used in the context of research to investigate the risk factors for suicide in certain populations, however they are rarely utilised in real life cases. It is likely that this is due to the term not being clearly defined or operationalised, as there is a lack of systematic framework for the training and practice of conducting psychological autopsies.

Dr Parikh

Another Reservation Against Psychological Autopsy

One very significant condition, which can be a big drawback to the investigation is bias, or what is more technically called structural bias.

An average person’s opinions and views would always be coloured by their own interpretations and experiences. Add to it the knowledge which is already floating around them in the public sphere - for instance suicide speculations in the Burari case - and it makes the reliability of opinions questionable.

One very significant condition, which can be a big drawback to the investigation is bias, or what is more technically called structural bias.(Photo: iStockphoto)

However, if the NCBI is to be believed, recent psychological autopsies have revealed “undertreatment” of mental disorders, “often despite contact with psychiatric or other health care services.”

There may not be meaty evidence available for or against the procedure, but in cases where there is already a lack of options, psychological autopsy often becomes a last resort of sorts.