Profil psychosocial des familicides commis au Québec – 1986 à 2000

Abstract

Familicide is defined as the homicide of the intimate partner and at least one child. Studies on this type of homicide are mainly clinical cases. Only one comparative study on familicide have been written. The objective of this study is to analyse the motivation as well as the demographical, criminological, situational and psychological characteristics from 16 familicides. These data are from “ Bureau du Coroner en chef du Québec” (Canada) files which are covering the years 1986 to 2000. Results indicate that all familicide has been committed by men. Half of these used excessive violence during the crime and many of them killed themselves after the perpetration of the act. Furthermore, many men showed borderline personality traits or a borderline personality disorder. Finally, four motivations are preponderant: intimate partner loss, social loss, mental state perturbations and the economical motivation. Clinical cases illustrate the different familicide sub-groups according to the motivation. The results allow an increase in the understanding of familicide and have an impact on intervention and prevention.