Characteristics of Homicide-Suicide Offenders: A Systematic Review
Rouchy Emma Germanaud Emma Garcia Mathieu Michel Gregory
Institut
de Sciences Criminelles et de la Justice (ISCJ), University of
Bordeaux, 4 rue du Maréchal Joffre, Bordeaux 33075, France
Department of Psychology, University of Bordeaux, France
Received 17 June 2020, Accepted 17 August 2020, Available online 20 August 2020.
Abstract
Homicide-suicides
(HS), the murder of one or several individuals followed by the
perpetrator’s suicide, are a major public health problem. Despite an
abundant literature on predictors of this complex phenomenon, findings
have been contradictory. Our aim in this systematic review was to
examine the characteristics of HS perpetrators and more globally the
risk factors associated with HS. We searched six electronic databases
from inception to October 1993 to August 2019 and identified 49 eligible
studies. We extracted eight categories of risk factors, structured as
follows: sociodemographic characteristics; relationship dynamics and
family situation; victimological factors; psychopathological
vulnerabilities; legal history; life experiences; motivational factors;
and modus operandi. Perpetrators of homicide-suicides were older and
more likely to be male, older than homicide or suicide perpetrators.
Studies also reveal an early history of adversity during childhood,
legal issues in the past, as well as the exposure to stressful and/or
traumatic events shortly before the criminal act as risk factors. Most
of HS are perpetrated in an intra-familial setting and occur in the
context of recent separation, divorce, and domestic conflicts. Finally,
the present review shows the significant contribution of
psychopathological factors (e.g., depressive disorder, psychotic
delusional convictions) in the HS phenomenon.
Keywords
Homicide-Suicide
Murder-Suicide
Homicide
Familicide
Risk Factors
Systematic Review
