Matricide: A Critique of the Literature

Heide, Kathleen M.; Frei, Andreas

doi:10.1177/1524838009349517

Cited by 58 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…5 This was presented as an alternative to early psychoanalytic thinking that hatred of the mother was a derivative of the oedipal complex.5 Most of the available studies have examined schizophrenic sons who killed their mothers 6,7,8 with very few mentioning maternal homicide by daughters. 9,11 In this report, we have presented a schizophrenic son and daughter who killed their mothers. Both of them were not close to their mothers yet they lived with them and were dependent on them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Some studies have shown an ambivalent relationship between schizophrenic sons and their mothers whom they had killed. 7,9,11 Singal & Dutta 7 indicate that there is intense, conflict-laden relationship between schizophrenic sons and their mothers. The majority of the patients that they studied described their mothers as being domineering and demanding on one hand but tolerant and affectionate on the other hand.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intra-familial tension as a precipitant for matricide has been suggested by Wick et al 10 The psychosocial characteristics of the patients presented in this report appear to be in keeping with the observation of previous studies and case reports. 4,5,9,11 Both of them were young, unemployed, poorly educated, dependent on their mothers, the last children of their mothers and of low socio-economic status.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since his curious impression, several studies and case reports in the last century had attempted to substantiate or repudiate his claim. 5,6,7,8 Research evidence within the first decade of the 21st century also seems to suggest that matricide although rare, still occurs within the context of schizophrenia 9,10,11,12 and other psychotic disorders. 11,13 Here, we present two case reports which highlight the psychodynamic, phenomenological and contextual issues involved in the perpetration of matricide by schizophrenic patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Matricide and schizophrenia in the 21st century: a review and illustrative cases

Ogunwale¹,

Abayomi²

2012

Afr. J. Psych

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Studies have shown an association between homicidal behaviour and psychiatric disorders although it remains difficult to conclude that definite causal relationships exist between specific mental illnesses and particular forms of homicide. However, matricide has been linked to schizophrenia for several decades with an assortment of explanations to explain the connection. To review the psychosocial, contextual and clinical issues involved in the perpetration of matricide by patients with schizophrenia. Two detailed case reports are presented alongside review of relevant literature. There are complex psychodynamic, phenomenological and contextual factors in the act of matricide by persons with schizophrenia. The observation that ambivalent relationships exist between schizophrenics and their mothers (or other carers) probably suggests the need for adequate clinical intervention with families of affected patients in resolving psychological tension which might be the provoking stimulus to murder.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Matricide and schizophrenia in the 21st century: a review and illustrative cases

Ogunwale¹,

Abayomi²

2012

Afr. J. Psych

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“…O matricídio é definido como o assassinato da mãe por um filho e é uma das formas mais raras de homicídio 14 . 16 . A relação do transtorno mental com o matricídio é bastante complexa e ainda pouco clara nos poucos casos descritos na literatura 17 .…”

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Matricídio, seguido de canibalismo e automutilação de pênis e mão em paciente esquizofrênico motivado por delírios religiosos

Teixeira

Meneguette

Dalgalarrondo

2012

J. bras. psiquiatr.

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RESUMOIntrodução: A automutilação em pacientes psiquiátricos ocorre, sobretudo, associada a psicoses esquizofrênicas ou tóxicas, podendo estar relacionada a crenças religiosas, impulsividade, abuso de substâncias e outros sintomas psicóticos como alucinações ou delírios. Método: Relatamos o caso de um jovem de 22 anos que cometeu matricídio, seguido de canibalismo e automutilação do pênis e mão direita em primeiro surto psicótico, motivado por delírio religioso. Resultados: Relatos de mutilação genital e olhos em pacientes esquizofrênicos são encontrados na literatura médica, contudo são raríssimos os casos que cometeram tais atos em primeiro surto psicótico. O matricídio é menos frequente que o parricídio e o agressor é geralmente filho homem. Conclusão: Trata-se de um caso grave, complexo e possivelmente o primeiro caso descrito na literatura de matricídio seguido de canibalismo e automutilação do pênis e mão. ABSTRACTIntroduction: Self-mutilation in psychiatric patients is primarily associated with schizophrenic or toxic psychoses and may be related to religious delusion, impulsivity, substance abuse or other psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions. Method: We report the case of a twenty-two-year-old who, motivated by religious delusion, committed matricide, followed by cannibalization and mutilation of the penis and right hand in his first psychotic episode. Results: Reports of mutilation of genitals and eyes in schizophrenic patients are found in medical literature; however, there are few cases where such acts were committed in the first psychotic episode. Matricide is generally less common than patricide, and the offender is usually the male son. Conclusion: This is a case that is severe, complex, and possibly the first case described in the literature of matricide followed by cannibalism and mutilation of the penis and hand.

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Matricide and Stepmatricide Victims and Offenders: An Empirical Analysis of U.S. Arrest Data

Heide

2013

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Almost all of the clinical and empirical literature on female parricide victims focuses on mothers killed, with only little information available on stepmothers murdered. This study is the first to compare the victim, offender, and case correlates in incidents when mothers and stepmothers were killed. Supplementary Homicide Report Data for 1976-2007 were used to investigate similarities and differences between the two female victim types in the United States. Similarities between stepmothers and mothers included that more than 70% were White and killed in single victim, single offender incidents. Their killers were adult sons in between 67% and 87% of incidents. Several significant differences emerged with respect to age, involvement in multiple offender incidents, and weapon use. Stepmothers and their stepchildren, relative to mothers and their offspring, were significantly younger. Sixty-four percent of stepchildren, compared with 35% of biological children, were under age 25 at the time of their arrest for murder. A higher percentage of juveniles than adult killers was involved in multiple offender (MO) incidents involving mothers. Relative to their male counterparts, higher percentages of female juveniles were involved in MO incidents involving the deaths of mothers and stepmothers. A higher proportion of female adults, relative to their male counterparts, were involved in MO matricide incidents. Offenders who killed stepmothers, relative to those who killed mothers, were significantly more likely to use guns. Juvenile matricide offenders were significantly more likely to use firearms than their adult counterparts. Possible reasons for the differences are discussed in the conclusion.

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Matricide: A Critique of the Literature

Cited by 58 publications

References 63 publications

Matricide and schizophrenia in the 21st century: a review and illustrative cases

Matricide and schizophrenia in the 21st century: a review and illustrative cases

Matricídio, seguido de canibalismo e automutilação de pênis e mão em paciente esquizofrênico motivado por delírios religiosos

Matricide and Stepmatricide Victims and Offenders: An Empirical Analysis of U.S. Arrest Data

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