The role of depression in couples involved in murder-suicide and homicide

Article Abstract:

Researchers have reported that depressed patients with homicidal potential differed from depressed patients without this potential. These differences included that patients with homicidal potential had an increased tendency to abuse alcohol, to be physically abusive, to have had a chaotic childhood, and to have a personality disorder. To further distinguish people with homicidal tendencies from those without, this study compared 12 couples involved in murder-suicides and 24 couples involved in homicides. They found definite distinctions which led the investigators to believe that these were two different populations. Data on these couples were gathered from the files of the Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Department for the 10-year period, 1978 to 1987. Additional data on couples involved in murder-suicides and homicides was gathered from an article in Time magazine called ''7 Deadly Days'', about 464 people who died by gunfire in the United States during the week of May 1 to 7, 1989. In the 12 cases of murder-suicide in Albuquerque, most of the perpetrators were men (11 of 12), but half the perpetrators in the homicide cases were women. This was consistent with the trend noted in the Time magazine data as well. The murder-suicide couples were from a higher socioeconomic class than the homicide couples, and had had long-term relationships, as compared with the short-term relationships common in the homicide cases. Eight of the murder-suicide couples were separated at the time of the crime, and six of the women were in a personal growth and liberation process. All the relationships were chaotic and the male perpetrators in both groups were extremely jealous. All 12 perpetrators in the homicide group were alcohol and drug abusers, compared with only four perpetrators in the murder-suicide group. All of these substance abusers had been drinking at the time of the crime. In the homicide group, none of the perpetrators were found to have suffered from depression, compared with 75 percent (eight men and one woman) of the murder-suicide group. None of the other 11 women in the murder-suicide group were found to have any major psychopathology, whereas most of the men and women in the homicide group were found to be substance abusers and to suffer from sociopathology and personality disorders. One-third of the homicide couples and none of the murder-suicide couples were black (the population of Albuquerque is only 2 percent black). This study reveals the ways in which the murder-suicide and homicide groups are clearly different populations. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Suicide, Demographic aspects, Depression, Mental, Depression (Mood disorder), Murderers

---

The presumptive role of fantasy in serial sexual homicide

Article Abstract:

The hypothesis that fantasy plays a significant role in motivating the actions of the serial sexual killer has been expanded on the basis of results of a study. The idea of the existence of an intrusive fantasy which provides the underlying motivation for homicide has been discussed in some detail by other investigators. Two groups of sexual murderers were examined and compared. The first group consisted of 25 serial sexual murderers having at least three known victims each. The second included 17 sexual murderers that had only one known victim. Three distinct secondary features emerged in the serial group that were not as pronounced in the single-victim murderers. The serial group showed a greater frequency of paraphilia, a sexual disorder characterized by recurrent sexual fantasies and urges. It usually involves the suffering or humiliation of oneself, one's partner, or an unwilling participant, or preoccupation with a non-human object. Examples include exhibitionism, fetishism, and sexual sadism. Supportive of the original hypothesis, it was found that serial killers were more likely to have a strong underlying internal mechanism that motivated their crimes than one-time offenders did. The serial killers also exhibited more recurrent violent fantasies which were both self-reported and documented. Finally, the serial group more frequently planned out or choreographed their actions in advance. The researchers stressed the preliminary and theoretical nature of their findings and explained that the possible utility of this information was based primarily on secondary intervention. Awareness of individuals with "high-risk fantasies" and sexual disorders such as paraphilia may aid in the prediction of the serial killer. In particular, attention should be paid to these characteristics in combination with a history of acting out sadistic fantasies. It is likely that this type of crime is on the increase and a greater understanding of the mechanisms involved in the underlying behavior disorder may aid in prevention.

Sexual disorders, Research, Analysis, Serial murders, Sexual fantasies, Sadism

---

Erotic obsession: relationship to hypoactive sexual desire disorder and paraphilia

Article Abstract:

Psychosexual disorders are common among people who are victims of unrequited love. Erotomania and paraphilia are types of psychosexual disorders that occur when the normal controls of sexual motivation go awry. They are associated with the unusual increase in sexual desire and an intense sexual obsession for a person who does not return their affection. Clinical studies on these types of psychiatric problems are presented.

Sexual addiction

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The nature of interpretation: intersubjectivity and the third position. Subject in first person - subject in third person: subject, subjectivity, and intersubjectivity
• Abstracts: The role of the initial interaction in leader-member exchange. The impact of top-management actions on employee attitudes and perceptions
• Abstracts: REM latency and the recovery from depression: getting over divorce. Substituting nonsomatic for somatic symptoms in the diagnosis of depression in elderly male medical patients
• Abstracts: Startle modulation in children with posttraumatic stress disorder. Physiological evidence of exaggerated startle response in a subgroup of Vietnam veterans with combat-related PTSD
• Abstracts: Evaluation of a Mental Illness Awareness Week program in public schools. Private and public psychiatry: a comparison of two health care systems

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.