Analysis of Studies in the Field of Psychological Autopsy in Türkiye: A Meta Synthesis Study

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the studies on the “Psychological Autopsy” method in Türkiye by using the meta-synthesis method. In the process of data collection, the keywords “psychological autopsy” and “completed suicide” were preferred. Google Scholar search engine, TUBITAK ULAKBIM, Dergi Park, Higher Education Council National Thesis Center (YÖKTEZ) databases were used to select the studies to be evaluated within the scope of the research. As a result of the searches, a total of 18 studies, 17 articles, and 1 master's thesis, published in Türkiye between 1994 and 2023, were reached. As a result of the inclusion and exclusion criteria used in determining the studies included in the scope of the research, the research was conducted with 9 studies out of 18 that met the criteria. Each study was subjected to content analysis and analyzed in terms of its aims, methods, study groups, data collection tools, and results obtained. The data obtained were given in tables and in-terpreted. According to the results of the research, when the results related to the aims of the studies on the psychological autopsy method are examined; the aim of investigating the reasons that lead individuals to suicide is the common aim of most of the studies, studies with a qualitative design are the majority as the method in the studies examined, two main sources were used in the selection of study groups: family members and relatives-friends, data were collected using interviews and document analysis as data collection tools, and when the results obtained from the studies were examined, it was determined that they were gathered under seven basic categories: mood, mental illness, self-related, family and relatives-related, suicide method, suicide note and discourse, socio-cultural and economic reasons. Finally, various suggestions were made to the researchers and related institutions who will work in this field.