Psychological autopsy of suicide

Breno case

Abstract

It was sought in this study, to understand a case of suicide through the victim's characteristics, motivation, precipitators, method, planning, intentionality, respondents' reaction and the impacts caused by the loss on the lives of friends and family. The participants in this research were 3 brothers and 4 friends of the victim, called suicide survivors. The method used was qualitative, empirical, descriptive and exploratory, characterizing itself as a case study. Data were collected using the Semi-Structured Interview for Suicide Cases (ESCS) instrument, which is based on reports from family members and peers. Data analysis took place through the five phases that comprise the qualitative clinical method. The results presented were based on the versions of suicide survivors and took place in an intersubjective context. It became evident that the victim's characteristics, together with risk factors such as hopelessness, isolation and difficulties in social and affective relationships, may have contributed to the consummation of suicide. There were no precipitators or stressors involved in the suicide case studied. Immeasurable suffering was observed in the lives of the survivors, however, the reaction of the participants shows that the therapeutic and preventive dimension proposed by the interview was achieved. It is concluded that Breno's suicide may be related to a psychic and existential suffering that may have intensified during his life, and that the impacts generated by the loss on the survivors' lives were negative, violent and encompassed various dimensions.