Car accidents as a method of suicide: A comprehensive overview

Abstract The research literature provides evidence on the possible link between single-car accident drivers and suicidal intent, and some scholars have stressed the role of unconscious suicidal motivations in some single-car accidents. This paper review relevant literature on the topic and sheds lig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2012-11, Vol.223 (1), p.1-9
Main Authors: Pompili, Maurizio, Serafini, Gianluca, Innamorati, Marco, Montebovi, Franco, Palermo, Mario, Campi, Sandra, Stefani, Henry, Giordano, Gloria, Telesforo, Ludovica, Amore, Mario, Girardi, Paolo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accident Proneness
Accidents, Traffic
Antidepressants
Biological and medical sciences
Fatalities
Forensic medicine
Forensic Psychiatry
Forensic sciences
General aspects
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Medical sciences
Mental Disorders - psychology
Pathology
Personality
Psychotropic drugs
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Risk-Taking
Road traffic accidents
Self-destructive behavior
Single-car accidents
Studies
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide
Suicides & suicide attempts
Traffic accidents & safety
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Summary:Abstract The research literature provides evidence on the possible link between single-car accident drivers and suicidal intent, and some scholars have stressed the role of unconscious suicidal motivations in some single-car accidents. This paper review relevant literature on the topic and sheds light on neglected factors that may play a central role in reducing the number of deaths due to car accidents. We performed careful PubMed, and PsycInfo searches to identify all papers and book chapters in English during the period 1955–2011. Our overview of the literature indicates that above 2% of the traffic accidents are suicide behaviors. However, the phenomenon may be underreported, considering that suicides by car accidents may be reported as accidental in the national statistics. On the other hand, the association between accident-pronesses and unconscious self-destructive impulses is an issue that is difficult to solve.
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.04.012