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While much of work on homicide-suicide (HS) arises out of the USA and the UK, there is a paucity of research on HS outside of the Anglo-American sphere. This paper investigates HS in Hong Kong (HK), comparing the subtypes of filicide-suicide (FS) and mariticide/uxoricide-suicide (MUS) in that context as a means of testing the generalizability of past studies. Data from the HK Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the HK Police Force reports retrieved 156 cases from 2000 to 2019. In that timeframe, HS resulted in 261 deaths, with MUS being the most prevalent type of HS. Male offenders and female victims are more commonly seen. Offenders are generally older than their victims, and over half of offenders are married. FS and MUS display distinct characteristics in terms of offender and victim demographics, relationship dynamics, motives, and mode of killing. Depressed mothers tend to victimize their sons in FS as a means of saving their sons from a perceived miserable future, whereas male offenders aggress upon their female partners in MUS to alleviate their own frustrations, subsequently dying by suicide out of sorrow or a fear of consequence. MUS offenders are more hostile towards their victims and tend to kill with aggressive means, whereas FS offenders are more likely to kill with altruistic motives and with minimal force. These results match patterns of MUS and FS in the Anglo-American sphere, but with some important differences in terms of the use of guns and the presence of altruistic killing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filicide is the act of a parent killing their own offspring. Previous studies indicate that there are both commonalities and distinctions between filicides committed by mothers and fathers. The main objective of this study was to compare maternal and paternal filicide with a major focus on clinical and sociodemographic features of perpetrators, incident details, and victims. Filicide cases were examined at the bedded unit of the Expertise Department of Observation of the Council of Forensic Medicine that were referred by the Turkish Ministry of Justice. A total of 51 perpetrators and 57 victims were analyzed from June 2014 to December 2023. The perpetrators were daily face‐to‐face interviewed by psychiatry and forensic medicine physicians. There were significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics and psychiatric conditions between maternal and paternal cases. Female perpetrators tended to be younger, unemployed, mostly targeted younger victims and used asphyxiation to kill, whereas males tended to target older victims and utilized firearms. The most common primary cause of filicide in maternal cases was "unwanted pregnancy," whereas "spousal revenge" and "anger or impulsivity" were predominant in paternal filicides. All perpetrators who were not criminally responsible were mothers, mostly diagnosed with psychotic depression. Unwanted pregnancy, psychotic depression, and postpartum psychosis should be assessed when evaluating risk for mothers, especially for infanticide. The desire for revenge on a spouse, often seen with personality disorders, impulsivity and anger, access to firearms should be screened for risk of paternal filicide, particularly in older victims. Early recognition of these factors can help in implementing prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Our understanding of homicide-suicide (H-S), a rare yet tragic event, is sparse. While the phenomenon has been studied in the West for many years, only limited literature is available from Asia and none to our knowledge from Pakistan. There is evidence of complexity of the interaction between cultural, societal, and psychological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon; therefore, research findings from the Western countries cannot be directly applied in non-Western societies. Our objective was to study homicide-suicides in Pakistan, describe the characteristics of offenders and victims, determine the types of H-S, and examine possible motives and any events prior to the offense. Methods: In the absence of any official data on homicide-suicides, we used newspaper surveillance approach of four most widely circulated Pakistani newspapers (one Urdu and three English Daily) for two years (1st January 2019 to 31st December 2020). Each case was categorized using the modified Marzuk et al., Tardiff, and Hirsch's classification of homicide-suicides. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data that was then compared with published literature. Results: There were 114 H-S incidents with 198 victims of homicide during the study period, reported in the newspapers. Familial H-S particularly filicide-suicide were predominant, followed by spousal/ consortial H-S. Forty-one (36%) H-S involved multiple victims. The perpetrators across all categories of H-S were predominantly male (67%); the victims were predominantly women and children. Firearms were used in most incidents. The primary motive for the majority of H-S cases was familial, financial, and social stressors. Conclusions: The study highlights several unique patterns (predominance of familicide, multiple victims including high proportion of children) and a series of vulnerabilities (incidents related mostly to familial/ financial and social stressors) that overlap each other and ultimately lead to this tragic end. There is need to increase our understanding and develop effective evidence-based prevention strategies for H-S in Pakistan. It is also very important to have a national surveillance network and national violent death reporting system in the country for studying H-S cases, and for evaluating the impact of prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In reporting cases of filicide, the news media often relies on dominant cultural discourses that situate offenders within expected gender roles. This stereotypical framing can influence public perception of offenders and amplify outdated gendered expectations. This paper examines the portrayal of male and female filicide offenders, with a focus on depictions of mental health and the 'flawed mother' trope. The study drew from a sample of 103 Australian news media articles published between 2004 and 2021. Qualitative media analysis was used to examine tone and content, and to explore the gendered cultural lens through which offenders can be portrayed. The study addresses a gap in the literature by focusing on filicide and news media in Australia. The findings largely confirm that news media coverage of filicide perpetuates key cultural norms and gendered expectations of parenthood. The 'flawed mother' narrative, depictions of mental health issues, and a focus on parenthood were prevalent for female offenders. For male offenders there was general disconnect with their role as a parent. The findings provide a valuable insight into differential news media coverage of male and female parents who kill their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Filicide, the act of a parent or parental figure killing their child, has been reported in various African countries. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the prevalence and associated factors of filicide across the African continent, which is characterized by diverse cultural beliefs and practices. This review aims to examine the prevalence and risk factors of filicide in Africa. Methods This review included studies on filicide in Africa, identified through searches in various databases (PubMed, Scopus, Africa Journal Online, and Google Scholar) using relevant keywords. The Mendeley reference manager was used to organize all identified articles and remove duplicate entries. A two-round screening process was conducted by two independent reviewers, with the final set of articles selected through mutual agreement. The quality of the studies was then assessed. Results Out of the 107 retrieved articles, only 15 were included in the review. These studies revealed diverse prevalence rates: 3.7% of total homicides, 1.38% of deaths from family violence, and 13.02% for autopsied children. Various potential risk factors for filicide were identified, including unwanted pregnancies, marital conflicts, family disputes and violence, low socio-economic status, mental health issues in perpetrators, and mental, physical, or neurological vulnerabilities in victims. Cultural beliefs were also recognized as contributing factors to filicide. Conclusion Filicide is a complex and multi-dimensional issue influenced by various individual, familial, and societal factors. The review highlighted a high prevalence of filicide in Africa, shaped by these diverse factors.

Introduction: Child homicide is a serious crime, but there is limited local knowledge on its associated factors. Hence, this study aims to describe the profiles of the suspected perpetrators and victims of child homicide and determine the possible associated factors for child homicide in Malaysia. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective secondary analysis of child homicide recorded by the police force in Malaysia. Binary logistic regressions were used to determine the associated factors for child homicide in this country. Results: Of the total 332 cases of child homicide, 294 available data on suspected perpetrators, their demography and victims were analysed. Female victim significantly contributes to a lesser risk for intrafamilial child homicide cases (p=0.551;AOR=0.55;95%CI=0.307;0.988). Young age groups of victims (1 year and below and newborn) increase odds of intrafamilial child homicide. Infanticide is about four times the odds to occur compared to neonaticide (p=0.007;AOR=3.97, 95%CI=1.452;10.857). Chinese ethnicity is less likely to commit intrafamilial child homicide (p=0.043; AOR=0.26;95%CI=0.073;0.959). The analyses indicate that the saddle-shape pattern of age groups of the suspected perpetrators (20 years and below and 41 years and above) is a significant trend of perpetrators for intrafamilial child homicide. Suspected perpetrators aged 41 years and above are four times odds to commit intrafamilial homicide compared to those aged 20 years and below (p=0.006;AOR=4.42;95%CI=1.536;12.700). Conclusion: The findings may assist in providing information for the intervention strategies to eradicate child homicide via effective risk management practices. However, more research is required to ascertain the associated factors for child homicide in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual and written accounts of rage in popular media tend to associate rage with violent masculinities.1 Filicide brings women’s rage into sharp relief. By reading South African women in relation to their ancestral peer, Sila van den Kaap and through a ‘black deformative’ analysis of media accounts and an interview of filicide in South Africa, this paper asserts that black women have ample cause for rage. Filicide brings the purportedly personal into public light and compels a response. Although the response tends to pathologise filicidal women, it calls attention to the conditions of impoverishment that black women live under. The paper suggests that filicidal women’s refusal of the conditions of mothering, may also be an enactment of a strike against gendered scripts of care. Their own subsequent suicide might simultaneously be read as an opting out and as reaching for freedom beyond the interdiction of impoverishment. The findings suggest that rage is a crucial action-oriented affect in the expression and striving for black freedoms of which women are always core protagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Filicide, the act of a parent or parental figure killing their child, has been reported in various African countries. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the prevalence and associated factors of filicide across the African continent, which is characterized by diverse cultural beliefs and practices. This review aims to examine the prevalence and risk factors of filicide in Africa. Methods: This review included studies on filicide in Africa, identified through searches in various databases (PubMed, Scopus, Africa Journal Online, and Google Scholar) using relevant keywords. The Mendeley reference manager was used to organize all identified articles and remove duplicate entries. A two-round screening process was conducted by two independent reviewers, with the final set of articles selected through mutual agreement. The quality of the studies was then assessed. Results: Out of the 107 retrieved articles, only 15 were included in the review. These studies revealed diverse prevalence rates: 3.7% of total homicides, 1.38% of deaths from family violence, and 13.02% for autopsied children. Various potential risk factors for filicide were identified, including unwanted pregnancies, marital conflicts, family disputes and violence, low socio-economic status, mental health issues in perpetrators, and mental, physical, or neurological vulnerabilities in victims. Cultural beliefs were also recognized as contributing factors to filicide. Conclusion: Filicide is a complex and multi-dimensional issue influenced by various individual, familial, and societal factors. The review highlighted a high prevalence of filicide in Africa, shaped by these diverse factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Systematic reviews on child homicide have proliferated recently, making it hard to keep up with their output. Using an umbrella review approach (i.e., a synthesis of systematic reviews), this study aimed to identify what aspects of child homicide have been examined in systematic reviews, synthesize systematic review findings, and discuss the implications for policy, practice, and future primary research. Method: The current study utilized an umbrella review approach to locate systematic reviews of studies on child homicide published in various disciplines. The final sample included fourteen systematic review articles published from 2010 to 2022. Results: The main research questions varied across systematic reviews, but they included risk factors, typology, statistics on incidence and prevalence, and punishment and disposition. Systematic reviewers highlighted the need for a database and monitoring system, multi-disciplinary Child Death Review Teams, parenting education, and women-friendly services and policies. Conclusions: More systematic reviews and meta-analyses need to be conducted, focusing on evidence-informed strategies, to inform child abuse policies and practices. It is also imperative that the child homicide research community establish knowledge dissemination strategies to build large-scale datasets and translate research results into effective risk management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction. Despite being relatively rare in our country, murder-suicide phenomena have garnered increasing media attention over the years. However, actual data on their prevalence and characteristics remain limited. This study aims to describe and characterize all murder/suicide events reported at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in the Province of Messina, with a particular focus on distinguishing between cases of filicide/suicide and dyadic deaths. Materials and Methods. A retrospective observational analysis of judicial cases from 2018 to 2023 was conducted. Injuries were primarily localized to the head, neck, and chest for women, and to the head for men. In the case of filicides, death occurred through an asphyxiation mechanism, followed by the mother's suicide by hanging or falling. Conclusion. Within the scope of the medical examiner's activities, it is clear that acquiring more information through a standardized technical investigation and adopting a uniform approach could enhance the quality of the forensic service provided daily. This improvement, which would be in the interest of institutions and civil society, could be achieved through the sharing of procedures at both national and international levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, thousands of children are killed by their parents. Some of these killings are committed by mentally ill mothers who believe that death is in their children's best interest. This category of killings is called maternal altruistic filicide. Numerous studies have found that mothers who commit altruistic filicide are severely mentally ill and have histories of psychiatric illness, trauma, and suicidality. Despite this, mothers who commit altruistic filicide are often railroaded through the criminal legal system without access to adequate mental health care. Traditional legal procedures designed to assist the mentally ill, such as the insanity defense or the "guilty but mentally ill" verdict, are unworkable and insufficient remedies for these mothers. As a result, most mothers who commit altruistic filicide are incarcerated with very long sentences. This has created a system of injustice whereby mothers who commit altruistic filicide are forced to live in prison environments without access to adequate psychiatric care. This typically results in an exacerbation of preexisting mental health problems, and it prevents the mothers from attaining a meaningful recovery. This Note examines the current criminal legal approach to mothers who commit altruistic filicide and discusses its inadequacies. After outlining the problematic nature of the current legal approach towards mothers who commit altruistic filicide, this Note argues for the implementation of a system where, instead of incarceration, these mothers are automatically transferred to mental health courts to undergo mental health treatment and receive community-based support. This approach will allow mothers who commit altruistic filicide to receive quality treatment for their mental illness while also getting the opportunity to transition back into the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cet entretien entre les professeurs Jean-Pierre Bouchard et Suzanne Léveillée porte sur les enjeux psychosociaux de femmes auteures d'un néonaticide. Ce type d'homicide intrafamilial est particulièrement difficile à comprendre et le nombre de cas est quasi impossible à déterminer. Ces femmes accouchent en secret, et les personnes de leur entourage souvent n'ont pas observé leur changement physique. Un portrait psychosocial est dressé et certains éléments de compréhension sont mis en évidence dans ce texte. Le déni de grossesse, l'extrême solitude de ces femmes et des enjeux de santé mentale permettent de mieux les comprendre de manière globale. De plus, des vignettes cliniques permettent d'identifier certains éléments du parcours de vie de ces femmes ainsi que de dégager quelques pistes de prévention. This interview between professors Jean-Pierre Bouchard and Suzanne Léveillée focuses on the psychosocial issues of women who have undergone neonaticide. This type of intrafamilial homicide is particularly difficult to understand and the number of cases is almost impossible to determine. These women give birth in secret, and the people around them had not observed their physical change. A psychosocial portrait is drawn up and some elements of understanding are highlighted in this text. The denial of pregnancy, the extreme loneliness of these women and mental health issues allow us to better understand them. Clinical vignettes are developed to identify some elements of these women's life trajectories as well as to set out some avenues for prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of cases of child maltreatment leading to death in Iceland which is a small Nordic welfare society. The research questions were the following; 1) How many children have died in Iceland as a result of abuse or neglect during a 35-year time period? 2) What was the social context of these incidents and what were the antecedents? 3) What risk factors can be identified that might have predicted the incidents? Court reports and news media were analysed using content analyses. According to those documents, eight children died due to maltreatment by seven perpetrators in a 35-year period in Iceland. Four of the perpetrators were mothers; one was a father, one was a male day-care provider and one was a boy. The causes of death seemed to be partially related to the social context of the manslaughters. Four types of incidents were identified: a) two drownings, b) two cases of neonaticide, c) two cases of shaken baby syndrome and d) two cases of filicides. The results show that even in a small Nordic welfare society, children do die as a result of maltreatment, even though such incidents seem to be very rare.

Insanity defense legal doctrine in the United States is ill-fitted for filicide cases where the mother brings an insanity claim based on postpartum psychosis because the doctrine fails to account for the unique characteristics of the condition. Consequently, factors other than the straightforward application of the law affect the outcome of a defendant's insanity claim in a postpartum psychosis filicide case. Public opinion is one of those factors, but not all defendants with suspected postpartum psychosis are treated equally by the media and public opinion. This Note describes how the public response to the facts of a filicide case affects insanity defense outcomes by comparing the Andrea Yates case from 2001 and the Lindsay Clancy case from 2023, in which both women received public support and sympathy during their criminal prosecutions, with the cases of five other women accused of filicide who have not received public support or attention. It argues that public opinion should not be permitted to affect insanity defense outcomes, and that to restore postpartum psychosis defendants to an equal status where outcomes depend on law and science, the United States should adopt a filicide-specific criminal law that erases the need for such defendants to raise an insanity defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'homicide conjugal et le filicide figurent parmi les homicides intrafamiliaux les plus fréquents à travers le monde. Ces deux types d'homicides font l'objet d'un intérêt croissant dans la littérature scientifique au cours des dernières décennies. Les hommes auteurs d'un filicide ou d'un homicide conjugal partagent de nombreuses caractéristiques psychosociales. Néanmoins, la recherche a mis en évidence différents profils. L'objectif de la présente étude est de mieux comprendre qui sont ces hommes qui tuent un ou plusieurs de leurs enfants ou leur partenaire intime et ce qui les distingue. Dans cet entretien avec Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Suzanne Léveillée et Carolanne Vignola-Lévesque répondent aux questions reliées à cet objectif à partir de la littérature existante et de leurs résultats de recherche. Les chercheures relèvent les différents profils d'auteurs d'un filicide ou d'un homicide conjugal dégageant ainsi leurs caractéristiques similaires et distinctes, puis présentent une typologie à partir de données québécoises incluant trois profils distincts. Enfin, elles ajoutent des pistes d'intervention visant à optimiser la prévention des homicides intrafamiliaux. Intimate partner homicide and filicide are the most frequent types of intrafamilial homicides worldwide. These homicides have been the subject of growing interest in scientific literature in recent decades. Male perpetrators of filicide or intimate partner homicide share many psychosocials characteristics. However, research has highlighted different profiles of perpetrators of filicide and intimate partner homicide. The objective of this study is to better understand who are these men who kill their children or their intimate partner, and what sets them apart ? In this interview with Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Suzanne Léveillée and Carolanne Vignola-Lévesque try to answer this question based on the existing literature and their research data. They detail the different profiles and the similar and distinct characteristics between male perpetrators of filicide or intimate partner homicide, then present a new typology including three profiles. They provide avenues for intervention aimed to optimize the prevention of these family homicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Part II of the three‐part presentation of the updated classification of combined‐homicide published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences addresses intrafamilial homicide–suicides (H–Ss). Intrafamilial H–Ss in this classification includes all close relationships including dating and intimate partners, not just traditional family relationships, in contrast to extrafamilial H–Ss where the victim(s) of homicide are either strangers or in a more formal but nonintimate relationship with the actor. Intrafamilial H–Ss are further divided and classified as intimate partner, filicide, familicide, parricide, and siblicide H–Ss, respectively, and are typically so grouped in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a novel dramaturgical reading of Yeats's 1939 verse play Purgatory to explore the representation of patrilineage from the point of view of transgenerational trauma. In psychological studies, there is a growing body of evidence attesting to the fact that trauma experienced by an individual can significantly affect their children and even grandchildren, although these generations have not had a first-had experience of the initial trauma. This paper, therefore, not only offers a close dramaturgical reading of Yeats's Purgatory in light of patrilineage, but it also employs cultural trauma theory and some aspects of clinical trauma studies as a new frame of reference to gain a more thorough and topical understanding of what Yeats's drama has to offer to contemporary audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on maternal filicide has noted a lack of resources and mental illness as important causal factors. Although most scholars accept that filicide should be understood in an appropriate cultural context, the processes by which macro-level structures such as culture and ideology are embodied in the situated behaviors of offenders and victims have been insufficiently explored. This paper explores maternal filicide in Korea from 1948 to 1962. It finds that cultural factors unique to mid-twentieth century Korea, such as polygyny and shame, influenced the characteristics of maternal filicide in ways that differentiate it from the West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe public health nurses' assessment of the background factors of familicide, factors that promote or prevent identification of these factors and familicide‐related education. The researchers sought to provide information that would help public health nurses recognise and prevent family tragedies as well as the development of education. Public health nurses (n = 85) working at clinics in Finland were surveyed using an electronic questionnaire. The quantitative data was described through statistics and open questions were analysed using inductive content analysis. Approximately one‐third (33 per cent) of the nurses considered their ability to identify the background factors of familicide as very poor or poor, and most (87 per cent) felt that they needed additional training. The identification of background factors is hindered by a lack of both resources and multiprofessionalism, fragmentation of care conditions, fear, cultural challenges, and education inadequacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrafamilial child/adolescent homicide is the murder of a child/adolescent by one or more family members. This study delves into the medical and sociological consequences of child homicide, shedding light on the broader impact beyond individual families, which extends into the local community. Two Internet search engines and the search engines of major national news websites were surveyed to identify the number of intrafamilial child/adolescent homicide cases that occurred in Greece from January 2010 to December 2020. Over the study period, 34 victims of intrafamilial child/adolescent homicides were identified. The above deaths reflect an intrafamilial child/adolescent homicide rate of 0.15 homicides per year per 100,000 inhabitants. Most of the perpetrators (51.4%) were male, and the victims were equally divided into males and females. The ages of the perpetrators ranged from 13 to 61 years, and the ages of the victims ranged between 0 and 17 years. Most perpetrators (54.5%) had a previous psychiatric history and in many cases, they committed (33.3%) or attempted (15.2%) suicide after the homicide. The most common method of homicide was strangulation (usually combined with suffocation) (25%), followed by abandonment (15.6%). The most commonly reported motives were spousal revenge (26.5%) and psychotic disorders (26.5%). Raising awareness for intrafamilial child and adolescent homicide is of the utmost importance for the prevention of this dreadful phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filicide is defined as the killing of children from birth to age 18 by a natural or step‐parent. The legal definition of filicide in Korea does not impose such age limits. Although families in contemporary Korea are nuclear in structure, they were multigenerational prior to the industrialisation that occurred during the second half of the twentieth century. While psychiatric and evolutionary theories have been predominantly used in the filicide literature, prior works have neglected to examine how culture shapes violence against one's offspring. This paper explores the offence, offender, and victim characteristics in South Korean filicides (1948–1962) through a content analysis of a major newspaper (Chosun Ilbo). Results indicate that filicides occur in one‐on‐one contexts, primarily carried out by biological parents against their offspring while adoptive children appeared as victims due to the genealogical customs practiced in Korean society. Results indicate that more than 12% of filicide victims are adults. The implications of our findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We report a case of filicide which is an under‐researched entity in Bangladesh. A 28‐year‐old lady visited with complaints of irregular eating followed by self‐induced vomiting, poor anger control, irregular sleep, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts for the last year. On the third visit, she admitted that she killed her 32‐day‐old baby by keeping it in a refrigerator. The case raises some forensic psychiatric complexities as the patient confessed it to the psychiatrist while family members know it as an accidental aspiration. It indicates the complex nature and dire need for psychosocial support in Bangladesh.

La incidencia y gravedad de los filicidios, junto a la alta conmoción social y repercusión mediática que producen, demandan investigaciones que faciliten la prevención de estos delitos. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática ha sido analizar la existencia o no de características comunes entre los varones filicidas de menores de 18 años, atendiendo a diversos factores personales y contextuales, como el grado de parentesco, trastornos mentales o comisión de suicidio a posteriori. A través de una búsqueda exhaustiva en Web of Science, Pubmed, Scopus y ProQuest se obtuvieron 8,698 resultados, siendo incluidos 23 estudios tras la aplicación de los criterios de inclusión y calidad. Los resultados sugieren que los filicidas comparten ciertas características conductuales y contextuales, aunque algunas de ellas dependen del grado de parentesco con la víctima. Sin embargo, se requieren más estudios que analicen indicadores comunes o diferenciales de los varones filicidas para poder diseñar estrategias de prevención específicas.

The infanticidal mother has been represented in culture and in our psyches in various forms, but consistently as monstrous or mad. She has become the object and the catchall for our bad mother or Death Mother complexes and drives. In her work with such women the author hears their stories, not as monstrous, evil, or crazy, but as subjects with stories to tell, of which we know only the ending. By continuing to keep the infanticidal mother as Other, we keep our own dark drives hidden in the shadows; if, instead, we approach her as a speaking Subject, we allow for a fuller experience of Mother. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of mentally ill maternal perpetrators of filicide assigned to a single psychiatric-forensic facility, including previous access to mental health services. A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of medical records and legal documentation of maternal filicide patients at a single psychiatric-forensic facility (1990–2021) was performed. Socio-demographic, relationship, psychopathological, and criminological characteristics were collected. Data were compared according to previous perpetrators' access to mental health services or not and access within 1 year prior to filicide or not. All 55 detainees (mean age 34.8 ± 6.2 years) were included. There were 64 victims; 15 (23%) were ≤ 1 year old and most (77%) were single victims. Some mothers had history of violence/abuse (29%), an aggressive parent (45%), and violent relationships with their intimate partner (46%) and were socially isolated (49%). Most crimes were motivated by altruism (53%). Women had attempted suicide in 39% of filicide cases. Previous psychiatric diagnoses were available for 56%; 71% had accessed services for ≤ 1 year. Patients unknown to mental health services were less likely Italian, with children below preschool age and with no history of physical abuse/violence, aggressive parent, or suicide attempts. Patients lost to mental health services (> 1 year) were less likely Italian or assuming psychopharmacological therapy, were in shorter relationships, and were mostly diagnosed with personality disorders. Female perpetrators of filicide are often unknown/lost to mental health services prior to the crime. Multifactorial historical and current characteristics aid in identifying mothers at risk. Communication of the availability of mental health services must be multi-lingual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filicides lead to questions about motives and missed opportunities for prevention. The development of preventive strategies is difficult due to heterogeneous perpetrator-victim dynamics. Eighteen child killings by parents over a period of 10 consecutive years in the catchment area of Dusseldorf's Institute of Legal Medicine were identified, and the autopsy reports and prosecution files were analysed. With regard to motives and psychodynamics, a heterogeneous group of perpetrators were identified; the perpetrators were responsible for 8 accidental filicides, 3 killings of unwanted children, 1 killing during perpetrator psychosis, 1 spousal revenge killing and 5 homicide-suicides. Except for the homicide-suicides, overburdening seemed to be the main risk factor for the killings. Preventive measures are difficult to establish. They should focus on awareness campaigns and increasing or establishing multi-professional support for affected families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic homicide (DH) is the most extreme form of domestic violence (DV). There has been a growing worldwide interest in DH offenses and the characteristics of perpetrators and victims, and it is evidenced in part by the increase in the number of primary research studies in this area. The findings of a large number of the available primary literature have already been summarized into several systematic reviews. The principal purposes of this study were to identify what types and aspects of DH have been reviewed systematically (research trends), to synthesize findings from recent systematic reviews of the theoretical and empirical literature on the different types of DH (main findings), and to consider what existing reviews can tell us about the implications for policy and practice as well as future primary research (implications). The current study utilized a systematic review approach to locate systematic reviews of studies on DH. The final sample included 25 systematic review articles published from 2010 to 2020, including 12 on intimate partner homicide, eight on child homicide, and five on familicide. The main research questions varied across systematic reviews, but they included risk factors, statistics on incidence and prevalence, theories, risk assessment tools, punishment and disposition, and prevention strategies. Building on the synthesis findings, the current study concludes with suggestions for future systematic review research and implications for practice and policy efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deliberate killing of a child by its mother is abhorrent and is associated in the minds of many with mental illness and in particular with postnatal depression. However, at least 50% of perpetrators are neither "mad" nor "bad", and mothers who kill children are not "unhinged" by pregnancy or childbirth. We propose a different explanation: "blind rage" or "overwhelmed syndrome", whereby parents, stressed to breaking point by sleep deprivation or incessant baby crying, respond by lethally harming their child contrary to previous behaviour. The roots of this blind rage may be found in psychosocial disturbances, including the mother's own unsatisfactory experience of parenting which has caused attachment disorders. The legal framework guiding decisions to prosecute and structuring sentencing decision-making following conviction should acknowledge the exceptional stress experienced by such mothers postnatally. Health professionals including midwives and obstetricians should increase their vigilance and arrange referrals for mothers at risk of causing harm or committing infanticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most controversial acts of kings in Shahnameh is Goshtasb's attempt to kill Esfandiar. Goshtasb's interest in being a kingdom is generally cited as the reason for his action. In Shahnameh, Pashtun mentions this issue, but there are a few things to keep in mind in this regard. First, Pashtun is Goshtasb's first child and should be his crown prince, but he does not claim to be a king. Second, Goshtasb later transferred the government to Bahman. Moreover, examples of attempts to transfer power to grandsons can be seen in Iranian stories and the epics of some other countries; it is especially an Indo-European theme. Also in Iranian beliefs, girls are one of the mediators of Farrah transmission. Accordingly, in this article, we have tried to investigate the reasons for Goshtasb's attempt to kill Esfandiar. Based on the analysis, it can be said that Goshtasb's attempt to kill his son is a recurring theme and that the transfer of kingdom to a grandson was considered as a powerful transfer. According to the form of transmitting Farrah by girls, Goshtasb's Farrah reaches Homay, and Bahman inherits Farrah through his mother. Goshtasb also tries to behave in such a way that Esfandiar does not become a king because he does not have Farrah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current evolutionary psychological (EP) perspectives on filicide perpetration propose that it is an extreme behavioral manifestation of psychological mechanisms that evolved due to their function toward enabling ancestrally adaptive discriminative parental investment. Predictions concerning the characteristics traits of filicide derived from this hypothesis have been empirically supported cross-culturally. Still, it remains a theoretical and empirical question whether EP perspectives on filicide are applicable in societies where the general population is alleviated from ancestrally salient cues to reproductive conflict between individuals and children in their care and the opportunities for lethal caretaker behaviors are highly constricted. Compiling a national sample of filicide cases in modern-day Norway, the present study catered for testing whether EP perspectives on filicide apply in such a society. As predicted, the majority of incidents (79.5%) were associated with perpetrator psychopathology (psychotic episode or filicide-suicide). This further catered for testing the EP hypothesis that filicides associated with perpetrator psychopathology will be characterized by traits that contradict an ancestrally adaptive logic for discriminant parental investment. A full series of predictions derived from this hypothesis was supported as filicides with this association included no step-parental perpetrators and, when compared against filicides that were not associated with perpetrator psychopathology, had older victims and perpetrators and more often multiple victims. The findings confirm the potential applicability of EP perspectives on filicide in progressive and highly developed welfare states, thus lending support to their universal validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research focuses on help-seeking process among perpetrators and co-victims of filicides committed in the province of Quebec. This study draws a portrait of help-seeking behaviors among perpetrators and co-victims of a filicide and presents two clinical vignettes to illustrate the help-seeking process. The 28 cases of filicides (14 paternal and 14 maternal filicides) committed in Quebec between 2007 and 2012 were analyzed using the Grille d'analyse multidimensionnelle de l'homicide intrafamilial. One-third of filicide perpetrators consulted a professional or a support service in their lifetime. The requests for assistance tend to decrease in the year prior to the homicide. A small percentage of requests for help are observed among co-victims of filicide. The results allow to describe a complete portrait of help-seeking from perpetrators and co-victims of filicide and help raise the importance of understanding the phenomenon with a robust and responsive theoretical framework. This study highlights the relevance of developing and maintaining specific services for men and women in crisis and at risk of violent behavior. Informing and raising the awareness of the population as well as the professionals working with this clientele could be one more step towards better prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From ancient years, both the abuse and murder of children have almost been common practices due to the barbarity of the times, which have become a habit and appear in a number of different forms. Infanticide, as one of these forms, legally became a crime in 318 AD. Sacrifices were often made in the name of a god to infants or even older children, with families often feeling proud that their own child was to be sacrificed for the common good. At around the time of the Renaissance and thereafter, public opinion began to slowly react to the idea of abusing vulnerable children, with the Church taking a more proactive stance, creating shelters in monasteries for abandoned children who were usually unwanted by their families. Later, the first institutions for poor children whose families could not raise them or for orphaned children, appeared in Europe and the USA. However, as the years passed on and there was no care for these institutions, the conditions became unsuitable and the children very often eventually died of hunger, diseases or even abuse. All of this was to take its official place in history with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and has now been signed by 191 countries. The Convention on the Rights of the Child now formally defines child abuse, violence and neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment theory has been linked with the caregiving system, acting as a drive for a mother's behavior towards her offspring. The most dramatic consequence of distress following maternity is filicide. Despite this, only few studies addressed the attachment models of women who committed filicide, and very little provided comparisons with mothers diagnosed with post-partum depression. We described the socio-demographic and psychopathological characteristics of mothers who committed filicide. Our aim was to detect differences in the attachment models between mothers who committed filicide, mothers with post-partum depression and control mothers. Participants and setting: We recruited 19 women who committed filicide (group F) along with 52 women with post-partum depression (group D), and 23 control mothers (group C). We administered a semi-structured interview on socio-demographic aspects and psychiatric history along with the Adult Attachment Interview. We performed an ANOVA, a post-hoc analysis and a logistic regression. The logistic regression showed a higher prevalence of Dismissing and Disorganized attachments in women of group F compared with group C (p = 0.002, p = 0.007). Dismissing attachment was also overrepresented in group D vs group C (p = 0.012). Interestingly, women of group F showed a Preoccupied/entangled attachment to a lesser extent than those of group D, reaching a borderline significance (p = 0.056). Disorganized and Dismissing models of attachment are prevalent in women who committed filicide compared with mothers with post-partum depression and controls, while other models of attachment are less frequent. Therefore, attachment could be taken into consideration to define the risk for committing filicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filicide is an extreme form of homicide defined as the murder of a child at the hand of their parent. Women who kill are often portrayed in the media as angry, psychopathic, vengeful murderers, and their own experiences are often not included. Understanding filicide is complex; it is a mix of both social and psychological factors. This article focuses on a review of literature from 1961–2020. We also review a classification model which identifies filicidal motives including altruistic, acutely psychotic, unwanted child, accidental, and spouse revenge. Characteristics of filicide victims, including age and gender will also be discussed. Additionally, characteristics of maternal perpetrators, including marital status, education level, feelings of rejection, and exposure to neglect or substance abuse will be explored. This paper also reviews psychological risk factors associated with filicide through highlighting differences between psychotic and non-psychotic female perpetrators Lastly, prevention of filicide, including a focus on providing education of risk factors and appropriate language in order to avoid miscommunication and oversight will be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litigation consultation is an expanding practice for forensic practitioners. Mock juries to voir dire to jury decision-making, there are multiple areas for psychologists to use their experience and expertise. The litigation consultant can aid the retaining attorney in developing case theories and drafting talking points for opening statements and closing arguments. It may be helpful for newer litigators to have a consultant for cases that are seldom seen, but create emotional responses within the litigator, the judge, or the jury. When females commit different forms of homicide, each one comes with a different theory as to why the killing was done. This article will begin with a brief literature review on three forms of homicide women commit: filicide, mariticide, and mass murder. There will be a brief literature review on developing and presenting a case theory. The article will examine different trial strategies that can be used by a consultant and if hired by the prosecution or the defense. The motive for killing will be presented in a way that will best serve the trier of fact to render a decision. Studies on female homicide indicated the act challenges assumptions about the role women play in society. These assumptions may either need to be challenged or reinforced depending on the side that hired the consultant but also allow for individual differences based on case specifics and issues of diversity. The article will conclude with a discussion on best practices for both the consultant and the retaining attorney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current article was motivated by a case study to diversify present literature on parental grief and wrongful conviction. The authors sought to accomplish this by reviewing available literature on parental grief through the lens of mothers who are forced to grieve both the loss of their child as well as the loss of their personal freedom as a result of being wrongfully incarcerated for the death of said child. The integration of these two topics revealed significant emotional, physical, and adaptive effects of being a female exoneree compounded with the effect of being convicted of physically harming or killing her own child. A review of this information revealed several risk factors contributing to the development of both psychiatric and medical conditions, as well as increasing the risk of mortality in women, and allowed the current authors to propose future directions for practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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