ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 November 2002
Page Count: 4

Psychological Autopsies: The Current Department of Defense Effort to Standardize Training and Quality Assurance
Ritchie, EC
Program Director, Mental Health Policy and Women's Health Issues, VA

Gelles, MG
Chief Psychologist, US Naval Criminal Investigative Service, D.C.

(Received 8 July 2002; accepted 29 June 2002)

Abstract

Psychological autopsies have been gathered by the US military for a long time, both for lessons learned after a known suicide and to investigate an equivocal death. The term “psychological autopsies” is now being restricted to define an investigation by mental health to help determine, in an equivocal death, if the manner of death is a homicide, suicide, an accident, or from natural causes. The Department of Defense has developed policy, and is now implementing training and peer review. A sample model curriculum, report format and quality assurance standards are included.

Keywords:
forensic science, suicide, psychological autopsies, equivocal deaths

Paper ID: JFS15577J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15577J
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