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Psychology and Law
2025. Vol. 15, no. 3, 66–77
doi:10.17759/psylaw.2025150305
ISSN: 2222-5196 (online)

Pair suicides in adolescence

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. A suicide pact is an agreement between two or more individuals to die by suicide together. Although rare, in recent years there has been an increase in the number of double suicides among adolescents and minors. Objective. To identify the clinical and socio-psychological characteristics of adolescents who have committed or planned to commit a paired suicide, and to describe the dynamics of the suicidal crisis. Hypothesis. The development of suicidal behavior in cases of paired suicides follows its own trajectory and occurs within the context of specific interpersonal interactions between the partners involved in the suicide pact. Methods and materials. A retrospective study was conducted on 9 cases of adolescent suicide pacts and 5 cases of single suicides, who intended to carry out a paired suicide. Descriptive statistics and qualitative methods were used for data analysis. Results. The clinical, social, and psychological characteristics of minor suicide victims involved in suicide pacts are presented. The potentially harmful role of the Internet in facilitating or influencing suicidal behavior is noted. The dynamics of suicidal behavior in the context of interpersonal interactions within a suicide pact are described. Conclusions. The findings may contribute to a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of paired suicides among adolescents. It holds important implications for prevention efforts.

General Information

Keywords: suicidal behavior, adolescence, suicidal pact, pair suicide, dyadic suicide, Internet

Journal rubric: Legal Psychology of Childhood

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150305

Funding. The study was carried out within the framework of the research work “Development of comprehensive models of clinical and psychological diagnostics, examination, prevention, interdepartmental interaction when working with children and adolescents in the context of crimes committed in the information environment and cyberspace”, carried out by the V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (reg. no. NIОКТR 123022000056-7).

Received 01.06.2025

Revised 03.07.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Kastalskaya-Borozdina, A.A. (2025). Pair suicides in adolescence. Psychology and Law, 15(3), 66–77. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150305

© Kastalskaya-Borozdina A.A., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Aleksandra A. Kastalskaya-Borozdina, Junior Researcher of the Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Psychology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3646-9208, e-mail: aleksandra.kastbor@mail.ru

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

The article doesn’t contain any materials to be considered by an Ethical committee.

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