The psychological autopsy: Unraveling the mind of the deceased

This paper explores the use of psychological autopsy as a method to uncover the underlying causes of ambiguous deaths, with a particular focus on suicides. Despite its long-standing application by mental health professionals, psychological autopsy remains under-researched in mainstream academia, limiting its broader application. As a tool, psychological autopsy is crucial for revealing the psychological factors that contribute to death, especially in cases where the cause is unclear or disputed. Suicide, a significant public health concern, often exemplifies self-destructive behavior that goes unnoticed by those close to the individual or by the medical community. By methodically reconstructing the deceased's psychosocial environment, psychological autopsy provides vital insights, particularly in cases of equivocal deaths where the cause remains undefined or unknown.