Forensic Techniques in Crime Scene Investigation – The Psychological Autopsy

Any crime scene investigation is a real challenge for those involved in forensic examination. Especially in those cases where a death ocurred, evidence dynamics and the amount of data colected must lead to an undoubtful conclusion. In some cases investigators have to establish a clear difference between accident, suicide, homicide, and a natural death. It is the case of equivocal death, where is necessary to understand all the psychosocial factors who have contributed to this end in order to clarify the nature of death. The psychological autopsy is the appropriate procedure in these cases. The present article will describe this technique.