title: [Infanticide. Social and forensic aspects].
abstract: Infanticides are not specifically classified in German criminal records. Thus, the number of infanticides varies depending on different sources of information. Reports from expert witnesses (n=48, 1980-2007) from the German regions around Munich and Rostock were analyzed retrospectively in order to identify sociodemographic, clinical and forensic characteristics of child murders. In 87.5% of the cases the victims were the natural children of which 25 were younger than 1 year old. Female offenders outnumbered male offenders by 3:1 and on average females were 8 years younger than males (26.5 years for females and 34.2 years for males). The motives included unwanted pregnancy/child, altruistic deeds, acute psychoses, child abuse (sexual abuse, neglect or negligence), drug or alcohol abuse, sadistic punishment of the child and revenge on partners. In 27 cases a restricted or exemption from criminal responsibility was acknowledged. About one third of the offenders consulted a physician before the crime. For an improvement in primary prevention, support networks should be integrated and sensitized to the problem.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie, Neurologie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie im Kindes- und Jugendalter, Universitätsklinikum Rostock, Gehlsheimer Straße 20, 18147, Rostock, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bätje
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schläfke
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nedopil
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hässler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007237:Infanticide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult