Beskow J, Runeson B, Asgård U
Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1990 Winter;20(4):307-23.
Essential knowledge on suicide is derived from studies that include interviews with survivors. In this paper, we discuss methodological and ethical issues pertaining to the interview method known as "psychological autopsy"; the discussion is based on our application of the method to three studies of suicides in Sweden and on a review of other investigations. Interviewing a survivor is a delicate matter, and the integrity of the deceased, the integrity and health of the informant, and the psychological strain on the interviewer must all be taken into consideration. The interviewer should have clinical experience in order to be prepared to deal with interviewees in grief. Contact by telephone, followed by an introductory letter, provides an opportunity to meet survivors in an empathic manner and has a low rejection rate. A 2- to 6-month interval between suicide and interview is recommended. The survivor's reactions to the interview should be evaluated in order to expand the empirical base for ethical considerations. Studies on the validity and reliability of the method are necessary.
关于自杀的基本知识来源于包括对幸存者访谈在内的研究。在本文中，我们讨论与被称为“心理解剖”的访谈方法相关的方法学和伦理问题；该讨论基于我们将此方法应用于瑞典三项自杀研究以及对其他调查的综述。采访幸存者是一件微妙的事情，必须兼顾死者的尊严、提供信息者的尊严与健康以及采访者所承受的心理压力。采访者应具备临床经验，以便做好应对处于悲痛中的受访者的准备。通过电话联系并随后附上一封介绍信，提供了以共情方式接触幸存者的机会，且拒绝率较低。建议在自杀事件与访谈之间间隔2至6个月。应对幸存者对访谈的反应进行评估，以便扩大伦理考量的实证基础。有必要对该方法的有效性和可靠性进行研究。
