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Research ArticleRegular Article

Characteristics of Female Homicide Offenders Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

Jessica Ferranti, Barbara E. McDermott and Charles L. Scott
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online December 2013, 41 (4) 516-522;
Jessica Ferranti
Dr. Ferranti is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Dr. Scott is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA. Dr. McDermott is Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, and Research Director, Napa State Hospital, Napa, CA.
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Barbara E. McDermott
Dr. Ferranti is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Dr. Scott is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA. Dr. McDermott is Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, and Research Director, Napa State Hospital, Napa, CA.
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Charles L. Scott
Dr. Ferranti is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Dr. Scott is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA. Dr. McDermott is Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, and Research Director, Napa State Hospital, Napa, CA.
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    Table 1

    Demographic Characteristics of the Sample

    Female n (%)Male n (%)
    Race
        African-American9 (19)8 (17)
        Caucasian33 (70)30 (64)
        Hispanic1 (2)4 (9)
        Other nonwhite4 (9)5 (11)
    Marital status*
        Single16 (34)29 (62)
        Ever married31 (66)18 (38)
    Education
        Less than HS12 (25)12 (25)
        High school equivalent18 (38)22 (47)
        College or higher17 (36)13 (28)
    • ↵* p < .01.

    • View popup
    Table 2

    Clinical Characteristics

    Female n (%)Male n (%)
    Axis I diagnosis*
        Schizophrenia12 (26)24 (52)
        Schizoaffective disorder10 (21)7 (15)
        Substance use disorders3 (6)7 (15)
        Other psychotic disorder6 (13)3 (6)
        Major depressive disorder11 (23)1 (2)
        Bipolar disorder4 (8)2 (4)
        Other disorders1 (1)2 (2)
    Axis II diagnosis†
        Antisocial personality disorder1 (10)4 (36)
        Other personality disorder3 (30)6 (55)
        Borderline personality disorder6 (60)1 (9)
    Childhood physical abuse‡
        Yes19 (56)15 (34)
    Childhood sexual abuse*
        Yes22 (58)8 (18)
    Intimate partner violence*
        Yes24 (65)7 (17)
    Mean (SD)Mean (SD)
    Age at offense‡35.7 (13.0)31.4 (10.1)
    Age at onset of illness24.2 (13.3)24.3 (10.7)
    Age at first offense*33.3 (13.5)25.1 (8.7)
    • ↵* p < .01;

    • ↵† p < .05;

    • ↵‡ p < .06.

    • View popup
    Table 3

    Offense Characteristics

    Female n (%)Male n (%)
    Victim*
        Child18 (38)1 (2)
        Other family member12 (26)11 (23)
        Friend/acquaintance/stranger17 (36)35 (75)
    Victim's age*
        Infant (0–1)10 (26)0 (0)
        Child (2–17)7 (18)0 (0)
        Adult (18–59)16 (32)30 (79)
        Elderly (60+)5 (14)8 (21)
    Weapon†
        Firearm9 (19)16 (34)
        Knife20 (43)15 (32)
        Blunt object2 (4)6 (13)
        Hands/fists2 (4)6 (13)
        Other14 (30)4 (8)
    Method†
        Shot9 (19)16 (34)
        Stabbed20 (43)17 (36)
        Strangled3 (6)3 (6)
        Suffocated4 (8)0 (0)
        Beat2 (4)9 (19)
        Drowned1 (2)0 (0)
        Poisoned1 (2)0 (0)
        Other7 (15)2 (4)
    • ↵* p < .001;

    • ↵† p < .05.

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Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online: 41 (4)
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
Vol. 41, Issue 4
1 Dec 2013
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Characteristics of Female Homicide Offenders Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
Jessica Ferranti, Barbara E. McDermott, Charles L. Scott
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2013, 41 (4) 516-522;

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Characteristics of Female Homicide Offenders Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
Jessica Ferranti, Barbara E. McDermott, Charles L. Scott
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2013, 41 (4) 516-522;
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