Citation

Omri S, Guermazi A, Chaâri I, Smaoui N, Feki R, Maâlej Bouali M, Ben Thabet J, Zouari L, Charfi N, Maalej M. Rev. Med. Leg. 2021; 12(4): 157-165.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.medleg.2021.08.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The popular conception of intra-familial homicide presents the perpetrator as a person who suffers from mental illness. The aim of this study was to establish the socio-demographic, clinical and criminological profile of the perpetrators of intra-familial homicide and to compare perpetrators with and without serious mental illness. We conducted a retrospective study of a series of 60 perpetrators of intra-familial homicide or attempted homicide, examined in a forensic psychiatric assessment, in the "C" psychiatry department at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, between January 1st, 1996 and December 31st, 2018. The socio-demographic, clinical and criminological data were collected from psychiatric expert reports and medical files. The perpetrators of intra-familial homicide were predominantly men (81.7%). Their average age was 35.2 years. They had a history of past violence against their victim (60%). Intra-familial homicide perpetrators had no mental illness in 20 %. They met the diagnostic criteria for a DSM-IV-TR Axis I psychiatric disorders in 43.4% of cases. Twenty-seven cases (45%) were in a state of insanity at the time of the offense. The comparative study showed that perpetrators with serious mental illness were delusional at the time of the crime (P < 10−4), had more history of attempted suicide and violence against the victim (P = 0.017 and P = 0.033 respectively), admitted the crime more frequently (P = 0.04), committed less frequently intimate partner homicide (P = 0.016), and premeditated less frequently their crime (P = 0.008). Intra-family homicides are a complex phenomenon. Identifying specific risk factors will help implement better prevention strategies. © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Homicide; Family; homicide; female; male; suicide attempt; disease severity; Mental disorder; risk factor; comparative study; major clinical study; mental disease; victim; retrospective study; Tunisia; clinical feature; population research; criminology; offender; social status; demography; medical expert; Criminology; Expertise; partner violence; delusional disorder; Article; DSM-IV-TR; attempted homicide; intra familial homicide