@article{ref1,
title="Epidemiological and forensic characteristics of intra-familial homicide in a Tunisian population: A retrospective study",
journal="Revue de médecine légale",
year="2021",
author="Omri, S. and Guermazi, A. and Chaâri, I. and Smaoui, N. and Feki, R. and Maâlej Bouali, M. and Ben Thabet, J. and Zouari, L. and Charfi, N. and Maalej, M.",
volume="12",
number="4",
pages="157-165",
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 &quot;C&quot; 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<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1878-6529",
doi="10.1016/j.medleg.2021.08.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.medleg.2021.08.001"
}