Comparative evaluation of toxicology and sociodemographic characteristics in homicide and suicide victims

Abstract

Background/Aim. Suicide and homicide are very important social problem, especially frequent among the population younger than 40 years old. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of different sociodemographic factors and relevant psychoactive substances on the difference between homicide and suicide victims. Methods. A cross - sectional study analysed autopsy reports of 714 suicide cases and 166 homicide cases, autopsied in a five-year period (2011-2016). Out of these, 666 suicide cases and 127 homicide cases met the inclusion criteria for this study. Blood-ethanol concentration was determined by headspace gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (HS-GCFID). Analysis of substances other than ethanol was accomplished by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).Results. There was a significant difference in age, level of education and employment rate between suicide and homicide cases (p < 0.05). The distribution of suicide and homicide cases differed significantly on weekdays in comparison to weekends (OR=1.5; 95 % CI=1 - 2.3; p < 0.05). Presence of a psychoactive substance remained a non - significant predictor of whether a person would become a homicide or suicide victim (p > 0.05). Homicide victims were more likely to have significantly higher blood alcohol concentration (0.2 - 0.3 g/dL) than suicide victims (OR=2.2; 95 % CI=1 - 5; p < 0.05).Conclusion. Victim's age, level of education, employment status and high blood alcohol concentration (0.2 - 0.3 g/dL) are significantly different between sucide and homicide cases.