Post-aggressive suicide in a state of acute emotional agitation – a case study

Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 2025 Aug;75(2):117-129. doi: 10.4467/16891716AMSIK.25.010.22188.

ABSTRACT

Post-aggressive suicide refers to a phenomenon that integrates the act of homicide with the subsequent suicide of the perpetrator. This pattern most commonly arises within the context of close emotional relationships, such as intimate partnerships or familial bonds. A defining feature of such cases is the motivational and causal continuity between the two phases – the suicide is typically a premeditated extension of the initial act of violence. This paper presents a case involving a male subject who, in a state of acute emotional agitation triggered by the breakdown of a relationship, inflicted multiple injuries to his partner’s head, face, neck and shoulder, and subsequently died by suicide. The presence of similar wounds on both the victim and the perpetrator suggests a highly violent episode, marked by elements of both interpersonal aggression and self-inflicted harm. The psychological profile of the perpetrator indicates prolonged internal distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms in response to perceived rejection. This case study aims to contribute to the limited body of literature on post-aggressive suicide, a rare but clinically and forensically significant phenomenon wherein externalized violence is followed by self-directed fatality.

PMID:40932443 | DOI:10.4467/16891716AMSIK.25.010.22188