Rates of Mental Illness and Parental Motives in Filicide and Filicide‐Suicide: Comparison of Coroners' Studies
Study | Sample | % Mental illness | % Suicide | Filicidal Motive |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bourget and Gagné12 (Quebec, 1991–1998) | 27 Mothers | 67% Depression; 15% psychosis | 56% | 68% Mental illness; 9% fatal abuse |
Bourget and Gagné28 (Quebec, 1991–2001) | 60 Fathers | 52% Depression; 10% psychosis | 60% | 66% Mental illness; 25% fatal abuse; 1% retaliation |
Hatters Friedman et al.61 (Ohio, 1958–2002) | 10 Mothers | 70% Depression; 30% psychosis | 100% | 90% Altruism; (10% psychotic altruism) |
20 Fathers | 50% Depression; 25% psychosis | 100% | 60% Altruism (20% psychotic altruism); 10% acute psychosis |