title: Homicidal ideation in family carers of people with dementia.
abstract: Family carers of people with dementia have higher than average rates of suicidal ideation, but there has been no research on homicidal ideation in this population. The aim of this study was to explore thoughts of homicide in family carers of people with dementia.
  
  
  
  A descriptive qualitative approach was taken. Twenty-one Australian carers (7 men, 14 women) participated in individual, in-depth interviews and the transcripts were analysed thematically.
  
  
  
  Seven themes were identified in the data - active thoughts of homicide; understanding homicidal thoughts in others; passive thoughts of death; euthanasia; homicidal thoughts in other caregiving situations; abuse; and disclosing thoughts of harm. Two of the 21 participants had actively contemplated the homicide of their care recipient, four expressed a passive desire for the care recipient's death, and four reported physically or verbally abusing the care recipient. Only one carer had previously disclosed these experiences.
  
  
  
  Homicidal ideation is a real and significant phenomenon among family carers of people with dementia. Service providers and health professionals are encouraged to identify and support carers contemplating homicide, but to do so in a way that recognises the broader social context of carer burden.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland , Griffith University , Australia.
authors.forename: Siobhan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland , Griffith University , Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moyle
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland , Griffith University , Australia.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland , Griffith University , Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Creese
authors.affiliation: b School of Applied Psychology , Griffith University , Gold Coast , Australia.
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zimmer-Gembeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia; D005065:Euthanasia; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: abuse; caregivers; dementia; euthanasia; homicide