Killing the Mother of One's Child: Psychiatric Risk Factors among Male Perpetrators & Offspring Health Consequences
OBJECTIVE:
To
study possible psychiatric and criminological risk factors of intimate partner
femicide (IPF) as well as the bereaved offspring's psychiatric morbidity and
premature death.
METHOD:
We
conducted a nested case-control study, based on Swedish national registries,
including all perpetrators of IPF. We computed risk estimates relative to
matched population controls, which were compared to those of non-IPF homicide
offenders. Exposed children were matched to population controls and followed
longitudinally up to 37 years. Offspring outcomes were psychiatric and
substance use disorders (according to ICD) self-harm; violent crime; suicide;
and premature, all-cause death.
RESULTS:
We
identified 261 male IPF perpetrators and 494 bereaved children from 1973
through 2009. Multivariable logistic regression suggested that major mental
disorder and violent crime
convictions were independent risk factors
of IPF, but substance use disorders were not.
Children exposed to IPF before age 18 years had elevated risks of major mental
disorder, substance use
disorders and self-harm. Offspring 18 years or older at the IPF had an increased
risk of completed suicide.
CONCLUSIONS:
Previous
major mental disorder and violent behavior were strong independent risk factors
for IPF. Bereavement caused by IPF had significant associations with the
offspring's future life, especially for those below 18 years of age at
exposure. Our findings demonstrate the need of direct support to the exposed
offspring by health care providers and social services.
- 1Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Stockholm County Council, Centre for Psychiatry Research, St Göran's Hospital, SE-112 81 Stockholm, Sweden henrik.lysell@ki.se.
- J Clin Psychiatry. 2016 Jan 5.
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