Suicide pacts: a review

Psychol Med. 1981 Aug;11(3):525-33. doi: 10.1017/s0033291700052843.

Abstract

Suicide pacts, though occurring infrequently, are neglected occurrences. They have features distinguishing them from 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.

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dominance-Subordination
  • Humans
  • Mass Behavior
  • Motivation
  • Shared Paranoid Disorder / psychology*
  • Social Conformity*
  • Social Isolation
  • Suicide / epidemiology
  • Suicide / psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • United Kingdom