Standardizing the Psychological Autopsy: Addressing the Daubert Standard

The psychological autopsy, as a research, clinical, & forensic tool, has gained widespread usage in suicidology over the last half century. In forensic settings, the lack of standardization & problems determining the procedure’s validity & reliability pose significant issues for the procedure’s admissibility under the Daubert standard of evidence. The authors examine expert opinion regarding the psychological autopsy & recommend a standardized protocol or template regarding areas & lines of enquiry for a psychological autopsy used in legal cases. (18 refs.)