title: The Homicide-Suicide Phenomenon: Findings of Psychological Autopsies.
abstract: Homicide-suicide represents a single episode of violence which may decimate an entire family. This study aimed to further describe motives and context of these tragedies. Psychological autopsies were completed for 18 homicide-suicide cases in Dallas, Texas. This included postevent interviews with surviving family members and review of police and coroner records. Two-thirds of perpetrators had made either verbal or written threats prior to the homicide-suicide. A simplified typology describing victim-perpetrator relationship and motive type is suggested for future studies and clinical ease. Two-thirds of perpetrators fell into the category of Intimate-Possessive, most of whom were depressed men who were abusing substances and undergoing separation. Additional categories included Intimate-Ailing, Filial-Revenge, Familial-Psychotic, and Friend-Psychotic. Further, implications from this psychological autopsy study regarding risk assessment include use of collateral interviews regarding threats and past violence.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatters-Friedman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013781:Texas
keywords: forensic science; homicide; homicide-suicide; murder; psychological autopsy; suicide; violence