TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2008//
TI  - Characteristics of hanging death scene investigations: a retrospective study of 247 suicide cases
JO  - Journal de Medecine Legale Droit Medical
A1  - Toulouse, O.
A1  - Laly, F.
A1  - Fornes, P.
A1  - Soussy, A.
SP  - 253
EP  - 261
VL  - 51
IS  - 4-5
N2  - We retrospectively examined the socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of suicide by hanging victims, as well as information collected during the death scene investigations, of 247 suicides, over a period of 42 months, of which 87 were by hanging (35.22%). Other suicide methods were drug intoxications (23.07%), falls from great heights (21.52%), firearms (10.52%), drowning (4.85%), weapons with blades (1.61%), asphyxiation (1.61%), and being crushed by a vehicle (1.61%). The socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of the victims of suicide by hanging (A) were compared to those of other suicide methods (B): sex of the victim: (A: 74.71% were men; B: 65.59% were men); mean age (A: 46.63 years old; B: 49.84 years old), depression (A:60.92%; B: 53.12%), suicide attempts (A: 28.74%; B: 18.75%), chronic alcoholism (A: 6.90%; B: 8.75%), and psychosis (A: 1.15%; B: 11.25%). Concerning the data of the death scene investigation, our results are the following: on-site suicide letter: 25.25%; traumatic lesions found upon examination: 12.64%; decomposition: 6.90%, intensive care hospitalisation: 5.75%, ligature types: rope: 42.63%, non-precise: 17.13%, a belt: 10.34%, a scarf: 9.20% an electric cord: 6,90%, a dog leash: 3.45%, a sheet: 2.30%); autopsy request (A: 16.09%; B: 28.75%), occurred in the home (A: 70.11%; B: 52.50%). Psychotic patients did not seem to choose suicide by hanging. Hanging was mostly done in a private place, usually at home. Autopsy requests were mostly made for other suicide methods.<p /> <p>Language: fr</p>
LA  - fr
SN  - 0249-6208
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -