Citation

Friedman SH, Hall RC, Sorrentino RM. J. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law 2013; 41(4): 523-528.

Affiliation

Case Western Reserve, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106. susanhfmd@hotmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Publisher American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

24335325

Abstract

There is less research about homicidal women than about their male counterparts. Women are often considered the gentler sex, and their risk of perpetrating violent acts is underestimated. In attempts to understand violence by women with mental illness, female homicide offenders found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) are an important subpopulation. Understanding common factors in this subpopulation (such as psychosis with religious delusions) may help in preventing severe violence perpetrated by women with mental illness. However, as with other crimes, those with mental illness who commit homicide may often have rational, nonpsychotic motives (such as anger, jealousy, self-defense, money, or criminal intent) and would not be captured in a study of those found NGRI. Further, caution must be used when studying an NGRI population, as there are potential gender biases in findings of insanity.

Language: en