title: A meta-synthesis of filicide classification systems: psychosocial and psychodynamic issues in women who kill their children.
abstract: Filicide is the killing of a child by a parent. To protect potential homicide victims, it is necessary to examine and identify intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics that result in filicide. The current filicide classification systems have intended to yield better etiological understanding of the crime and ultimately lead to prevention strategies and accurate death certification. A framework of motives and precipitating factors that lead to filicide by mothers offers a starting point to examine this emotionally evocative and complex phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, College of Nursing, Albuquerque, USA.
authors.forename: Marie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mugavin
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000533:Altruism; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002676:Child, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D003417:Criminal Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D003644:Death Certificates; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D053604:Forensic Nursing / Q000379:methods; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007237:Infanticide / Q000145:classification* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009035:Mothers / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015985:Precipitating Factors; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology