Citation

Putkonen H, Amon S, Eronen M, Klier CM, Almiron MP, Cederwall JY, Weizmann-Henelius G. J. Forensic Psychiatry Psychol. 2010; 21(5): 637-648.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14789941003721050

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study aimed to discover gender differences in filicide offenders' psychiatric diagnoses, history, and other mental health-related variables. This nationwide register-based study covered all filicide offenders (n = 124) in Austria and Finland in 1995-2005. There were 79 female and 45 male offenders. Both genders had an equally challenged childhood. The filicidal fathers were older than the mothers, mean ages 37.5 and 31.6 years, respectively (p < 0.001). Filicidal fathers committed suicide at the crime scene more often than the mothers (38% vs. 15%, p < 0.05). Of the examined parents, fathers were diagnosed more often with substance abuse/dependence (39% vs. 2%, p < 0.001) and mothers with a psychotic disorder (35% vs. 13%, p < 0.05). During the year preceding the crime, 25 (32%) of the mothers and 13 (29%) of the fathers had sought help for mental health-related problems. Service providers need specific strategies to support parents in distress, especially when depressive symptoms are present. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Language: en

Keywords

Gender; human; mental health; suicide; female; male; depression; sex difference; childhood; infanticide; psychosis; Filicide; substance abuse; Psychiatric disorder; article; mother; priority journal; mental health service; emotional stress; father; help seeking behavior; disease registry; Child murder