Chapter
Psychiatric Autopsy: its use in Police Suicides (In: Suicide and Law Enforcement, edited by D C Sheehan & J I Warren)
Seltzer J~~Croxton R~~Bartholomew A
This chapter outlines the use of psychiatric autopsy techniques as a tool in understanding police suicide. The psychiatric autopsy approach is a synthesis of assessment methods taken from both psychological autopsy & psychobiography. After a discussion of the background, purpose, & methodology of psychiatric autopsy, the chapter explores a specific case of police suicide-homicide by applying some of these techniques. The chapter also provides a comprehensive list of information that may useful in conducting a law enforcement officer psychiatric autopsy. JA