Army Psychiatrist Opens Fire: Suicide by Cop?

Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire in a Fort Hood deployment center today, killing 12 people and wounding 31 before being shot himself.  He is reported to still be alive.  Because Dr. Hasan, who was born in Virginia, has Jordanian parents and took a lot of advanced training in shooting, speculation has arisen that the episode was a planned terrorist attack on American soldiers.  This seems quite a bit less likely than the original explanation, that the psychiatrist’s mental anguish at being due to deploy to Iraq triggered a homicidal rage, with the intent that his life would be ended.  Sometimes this is called suicide by cop. 

In a study of 707 shootings in North America which involved police officers, 36% were determined to be cases of suicide by cop, according to Mohandie et al. 

Almost all people who die by law enforcement assisted suicide are men, and about half brandish or fire a bona fide firearm before being killed by police officers, while some carry plastic firearms or use other pretenses, according to Huston et al. 

Suicidal thoughts, depression, and hopelessness are quite common in healthcare workers.  In a survey of medical students, nursing students and pharmacy students in Brazil, more than half reported suicidal ideation or hopelessness, according to Alexandrino-Silva. 

Among regular duty military personel, access and opportunity to use firearms was identified as a major risk factor for suicide, according to Mahon et al. 

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Julian Lieb,M.D
Posts: 3

Fort Hood
Reply #3 on : Sat November 07, 2009, 08:22:14

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The phenomenon is referred to as "amok." Dictionary com. deftly defines amok as “a psychic disturbance characterized by depression, followed by a manic urge to murder.” This is the greater framework for Dr. Lock's impressive and accurate insight of suicide by cop.

Kathy
Posts: 3

Army Psychiatrist opens Fire:Suicide by Cop
Reply #2 on : Fri November 06, 2009, 02:50:06

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Since the man wasn't going to "see action" in Iraq, and he knew this, and it looks to me like he planned this. I think he himself has become the "Terrorist".

Joe
Posts: 3

Re: Army Psychiatrist Dr. Hasan Opens Fire in Fort Hood, Texas: Suicide by Cop?
Reply #1 on : Thu November 05, 2009, 21:59:27

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He's still alive and in custody.

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