ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1985
Page Count: 9

Female Homicide-Suicide Perpetrators: A Controlled Study
Fishbain, DA
Associate professor of psychiatry, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL

Aldrich, TE
Research assistant professor, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL

Rao, VJ
Associate medical examiner, Dade County Medical Examiner Department; clincial assistant professor of pathology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL

(Received 30 June 1984; accepted 19 December 1984)

Abstract

The record files of the Dade County Medical Examiner Department were reviewed and 133 homicide-suicides were identified. Of these, ten (or 7.5%) were female perpetrated. The chart data of these 10 female homicide-suicide perpetrators, chart data of 50 female homicide-suicide victims, and 50 female individual suicides systematically selected as controls were tabulated using a standardized instrument. The results were analyzed for differences using simple statistical methods. The comparisons revealed that female homicide-suicide perpetrators were more likely than female homicide-suicide victims to live in mobile homes, kill their lover or ex-lover, have their crime accidentally discovered, leave a suicide note, kill on a weekend, and be depressed, but are less likely than female homicide-suicide victims to live with a spouse. Additionally, female homicide-suicide perpetrators were more likely than individual female suicides to live in mobile homes but less likely to live alone and to be depressed.

Keywords:
psychiatry, suicide, homicide, surveys

Paper ID: JFS11056J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11056J
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