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Suicide pacts: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Bernard K. Rosen
Bernard K. Rosen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Guy's Hospital Medical School, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Bernard K. Rosen, Department of Psychiatry, Guy's Hospital Medical School, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT.
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Synopsis

Suicide pacts, though occurring infrequently, are neglected occurrences. They have features distinguishing them single suicides which can be seen as residing in the characteristics of the pact relationship. Dyadic, family and collective suicides are reviewed and found to have several common features, including exclusivity and isolation, the threat of dissolution of the relationship, and the presence of a powerful initiator.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , August 1981 , pp. 525 - 533
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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