Post-mortem psychiatric and psychological expertise of realized suicidal attempts among military personnel and cadets

• Main Author: Milena Dimitrova, Dancho Dilkov, Tsvetelina Ivanova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bulgarian Association of Young Surgeons 2019-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Surgery and Medicine
• Subjects: realized suicidal attempts; post-mortem military medical expertise
• Online Access: http://www.ejos.org/index.php?fulltxt=24087&fulltxtj=136&fulltxtp=136-1546353543.pdf
• ISSN: 2367-699X; 2367-699X

Background and Aims: The present work describes and analyzes four cases of realized suicidal attempts of military personnel and cadets from the period 2017-2018, presenting the efforts of the military and police forensic experts in the field of psychiatry and psychology. The subject is worrying and particularly significant in terms of prevention, mostly because of the exceptional difficulties of early recognition of the symptoms leading to the fatal outcome. Materials and Methods: The methodology of military expertise includes detailed personality profile based on the available information about the person, information about pathological conditions, analysis of the probable motives for the suicidal act, etc. Results: The authors present the most common risk factors for suicidal attempts based on their professional experience: a specific personality profile, depression, alcohol or other substance abuse or dependency, lack or loss of family members, financial problem, and others. The authors present their recommendations to the colleagues, chiefs, lecturers, military doctors, psychologists and relatives of the perpetrators and of individuals at high risk. Conclusions: These recommendations are related to the knowledge and skills for recognizing the early signs, raising awareness and empathy towards individuals at risk, and – last but not least – sharing their concerns with responsible professionals.