Depression more likely than schizophrenia as risk factor among parents who kill their children

On-line discussions of the dangerousness of the mentally ill, including those on DU frequently focus on schizophrenia and are all too commonly accompanied by photographs of wild-eyed perpetrators.

Few Americans realize that only 3%-5% of all forms of social violence are associated with mental illness, and even fewer realize that after statistical controls for the presence of illicit drugs and alcohol are in place, it is depression, Bi-polar Disorder, and features of Schizoid personality that are the mental disorders most associated with violence.

This study from researchers in the UK suggests that about 40% of parental killings of their offspring were associated with a mental illness (to be compared with mental illness in the general population of 20%-30%). They also found that psychosis and schizophrenia are not at the heart of the filicide, and that the mental health risks follow the pattern reported in several countries of violence being associated with mood and personality disorders.

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http://phys.org/news/2013-04-in-depth-uk-parents-children.html


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The over-representation of mental illness in filicide was the key finding of the study. Forty percent of filicide perpetrators had a recorded mental illness, consistent with findings from other smaller studies. But the most common diagnoses were mood disorders and personality disorder; not psychosis. This may contrast with popular perceptions and that of some professionals caring for mentally ill parents about more severe psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia. The proportion of perpetrators with psychosis was still high at 15%, (18% mothers) compared to 6% of homicides in general population studies. This compares to 0.4% overall prevalence in UK, 0.5% for women and 0.3% for men, with highest rates for women and men in people aged 35-44 years.

Less than half the perpetrators studied with mental illness had previous contact with mental health services; fewer fathers than mothers. Of the total, 20% were treated before the offence, which is lower than a similar Swedish population study (35%). Overall, the Manchester findings were consistent with those reported from a similar large, population-based sample in Denmark, where most parents committing filicide had no prior psychiatric history. This finding would suggest that the perpetrators were either not experiencing serious mental health problems at the time or, that they had not sought help.

Other key findings from the research were that 23% of female perpetrators were teenagers at the time of the child victim's birth. In the general population, the proportion of babies born to a teenage mother was 7%. Overall, fathers were significantly more likely to kill their children than mothers, and were more likely to use violent methods of killing, have previous convictions for violent offences, perpetrate multiple killings, and have a history of substance misuse or dependence. Of the 297 total filicide cases recorded during the 10 year period, the study found 13% of perpetrators took their own life after killing their child;known as filicide-suicide.

The study also reported that victims were equally likely to be girls as boys. Infants were most likely to be victims rather than school aged or older children. The researchers say the high proportion of infant deaths strengthens calls for early assessment detection of post-partum mental illness - a condition which may be becoming more widespread.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-in-depth-uk-parents-children.html#jCp