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. 2001 May:178:465-8.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.178.5.465.

Open verdict v. suicide - importance to research

K R Linsley  1 , K Schapira, T P Kelly
Affiliations

Open verdict v. suicide - importance to research

K R Linsley et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2001 May.

Abstract

Background: Open verdicts are often included in with suicides for research purposes and for setting health targets.

Aims: To examine similarities and differences in cases defined by the coroner as suicide and open verdicts and the implications of open verdicts for suicide research.

Method: All cases of open and suicide verdicts recorded in the Newcastle Coroner's Court in the period 1985-1994 were compared on demographic and medical parameters.

Results: Open and suicide verdicts had many similarities, differing only in some respects, of which logistic regression identified the most significant to be a suicide note, method used and age.

Conclusions: Open verdicts should be included in all suicide research after excluding cases in which suicide was unlikely. Objective criteria are needed to facilitate comparison between different studies.

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