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P030. Domestic homicide by family members with psychotic mental disorders
Thu, September 4, 6:45 to 8:00pm, Other Venues, Poster VenueAbstract
Background and aims: People are far more likely to be murdered in their own homes by family members than they are to be murdered anywhere else or by strangers. The current study was designed to examine the prevalence of domestic murders committed by people with mental disorders in Israel.
Method: The study reviewed the medical and legal files of all 80 individuals who committed murder, were found not guilty by reason of insanity, and were hospitalized in a maximum-security unit in Israel under a hospitalization order between 1997 and 2021.
Results: In most cases (n=49, 61.25%), the murder was committed by a family member: mother (28%), father (15%), wife (26%), brother/sister (10%), son/daughter (4%), or uncle/aunt or other relative (17%). When the murder was within the family, a prior conflict was reported between the assailant and the victim in most cases (at least 75.5%). Most of the murderers were diagnosed with schizophrenia (87.2%), and most of them (75.5%) were known to the inpatient psychiatric system prior to the murder. In 63.3% of cases, the murder motive stemmed from paranoid delusions. In 36.7% of cases, pre-planning of the murder was reported. Most of the murders occurred in the home of the assailant and/or the victim (91.8%). Most of the murderers committed the murder using various objects available in the home (mainly knives) or by beating or strangulation; only a minority (12.2%) used firearms. Most of the murders (85%) were committed brutally and furiously, with multiple stabbings, use of various methods, abuse of the body, or dismemberment.
Conclusions: The findings emphasize the need to improve and strengthen mental health services in the community (and at discharge from hospitalization), raise awareness of the risk of violence among family members of people with psychotic disorders, and create better solutions, such as emergency teams.