Man Against Himself.

Background:The homicide of strangers by people with psychosis, referred to here as ‘‘stranger homicides,’’ are rare and tragic events that generate adverse publicity for mental health services and have resulted in significant changes in mental health policy and law. Aim: To estimate the incidence of stranger homicides, using data from previously published studies, and to compare the characteristics of psychotic offenders who killed strangers with the characteristics of those who killed a close relative. Method: Metaanalysis of the population-based studies of homicide by persons suffering from a psychosis in which the number of subjects who killed strangers was also reported. Characteristics of stranger homicide and family homicide offenders were examined in a multicenter case–control study of homicide during psychotic illness in four high-income countries. Results: A pooled estimate of 1 stranger homicide per 14.3 million people per year (95% confidence interval, 1 in 18.9 millionto1in11.5millionpeopleperyear)wascalculatedby meta-analysis of 7 studies. The characteristics of the 42 stranger homicide offenders from New South Wales [NSW], Quebec and Eastern Ontario, Finland, and the Netherlands were identified. Twenty seven (64%) of these had never previously received treatment with antipsychotic medication. The stranger homicide offenders were more likely to be homeless, have exhibited antisocial conduct, and had fewer negative symptoms than those who killed family members. The victims of stranger homicide were mostly adult males and the homicides rarely occurred in the victim’s home or workplace. Conclusions: Stranger homicide in psychosis is extremely rare and is even rarer for a patient who has received treatment with antipsychotic medication. A lack of distinguishing characteristics of stranger homicide offenders and an extremely low base rate of stranger-homicide suggests that risk assessment of patients known to have a psychotic illness will be of little assistance in the prevention of stranger homicides.

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Homicide of Strangers by People with a Psychotic Illness

Homicide followed by suicide: A review

Intimate partner homicide: A meta-analysis of risk factors

This article focuses on intimate partner killings to address the question of why some killers subsequently commit suicide whereas others do not. Utilizing Blackian theories of conflict management and Manning's theory of suicide, it advances hypotheses about when intimate partner conflict will result in homicide-suicide rather than homicide alone. These hypotheses propose that differing amounts of status superiority and relational distance predict and explain different patterns of lethal violence. The hypotheses are illustrated and supported with data taken from a study of intimate partner homicides in the state of West Virginia. The article concludes by arguing for a micro-structural model that addresses suicide, homicide, and homicide-suicide. Language: en

The social structure of homicide-suicide

Homicide—suicides are a rare yet very serious form of interpersonal violence that occur mainly in partnerships and families. As both perpetrator and victim die in a homicide— suicide, data sources in previous studies typically lack detailed information. This study overcomes this limitation by making use of homicides followed by a suicide attempt of the perpetrator (homicide—parasuicides). The authors examine to what extent these homicide—parasuicides can be understood as being primarily an expression of homicidal or of suicidal behavior. In total, 77 homicide—parasuicides are compared to 430 homicides and 161 parasuicides. The results show that homicide—parasuicides constitute a different category of lethal violence with regard to demographic, individual, and event-related characteristics. Subanalyses of homicide—parasuicides involving women and children reveal similar differences. The finding that a large majority of the perpetrators were mentally ill, dependent on the victim, and killed when faced with ...

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Domestic Homicide Followed by Parasuicide A Comparison With Homicide and Parasuicide

Het doden van kinderen is een dramatische gebeurtenis. Deze dodingen krijgen een versterkt dramatisch karakter als de dader ook nog zichzelf doodt of een poging daartoe doet. In deze studie wordt onderzocht of kinderdoding gevolgd door een ernstige poging tot zelfdoding een variatie op doding vormt, een variatie op zelfdoding vormt, of als een aparte categorie van dodelijk geweld moet worden beschouwd. Suicidale ouders die hun kinderen doodden, verschillen in sociaaldemografische, individuele en daadgebonden karakteristieken van niet-suicidale ouders die hun kind doodden, en van suicidale ouders die hun kind(eren) niet doodden. Deze verschillen zijn zodanig, dat kinderdoding gevolgd door (een ernstige poging tot) zelfdoding als aparte groep kan worden beschouwd.

Kinderdoding gevolgd door een ernstige poging tot zelfdoding. Drie modaliteiten van geweld

textHet doden van kinderen is een dramatische gebeurtenis. Deze dodingen krijgen een versterkt dramatisch karakter als de dader ook nog zichzelf doodt of een poging daartoe doet. In deze studie wordt onderzocht of kinderdoding gevolgd door een ernstige
poging tot zelfdoding een variatie op doding vormt, een variatie op zelfdoding vormt, of als een aparte categorie van dodelijk geweld moet worden beschouwd. Suicidale ouders die hun kinderen doodden, verschillen in sociaaldemografische, individuele en daadgebonden karakteristieken van niet-suicidale ouders die hun kind doodden, en van suicidale ouders die hun kind(eren) niet doodden. Deze verschillen zijn zodanig, dat kinderdoding gevolgd door (een ernstige poging tot) zelfdoding als aparte groep kan worden beschouwd.

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Michiel Hengeveld

Papers

Domestic Homicide Followed by Parasuicide A Comparison With Homicide and Parasuicide

Kinderdoding gevolgd door een ernstige poging tot zelfdoding. Drie modaliteiten van geweld

Kinderdoding gevolgd door een ernstige poging tot zelfdoding