Journal Article

DZNE-2021-01164

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Typology of murder-suicides in Berlin according to a longitudinal study based on autopsy files.

Zimmermann, M. (First author)DZNE* ; Tsokos, M.

2021
Springer [S.l.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s12024-021-00360-6

Abstract: Murder-suicides are defined as the murder of at least one person and the suicide of the offender following the murder. The intention to commit suicide must be primary. In most cases, a male offender kills a female victim after a separation. The current analysis was the first analysis of the typology of murder-suicides in Berlin. We analyzed the autopsy files of the Institute for Forensic Medicine of the Charité University Medicine Berlin and of the City Institute for Forensic Medicine Berlin. We performed descriptive and statistical analyses of cases between 2005 and 2013. We identified 17 murder-suicides. All 17 offenders were male, and 20 of the victims (90%) were female. The offenders used firearms in the majority of the cases. In seven cases, the victims and offenders were at least 80 years old. The average age of the offenders was 63 years. Disease was the motive in 6 cases involving older offenders. Our study might support the development of prevention strategies. In this regard, it is important to build a database for murder-suicides in Germany and other countries, to formulate a uniform definition of murder-suicide, to carry out nationwide interdisciplinary studies on this topic and to improve the existing health care structures, especially for older adults and people with depression.

Keyword(s): Aged (MeSH) ; Aged, 80 and over (MeSH) ; Autopsy (MeSH) ; Berlin (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Homicide: statistics & numerical data (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Longitudinal Studies (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Retrospective Studies (MeSH) ; Suicide: statistics & numerical data (MeSH) ; Criminal law ; Depression ; Homicide-suicides ; Murder-suicides ; Psychopathology ; Suicides

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Tübingen common (Tübingen common)

Research Program(s):

1. 354 - Disease Prevention and Healthy Aging (POF4-354) (POF4-354)

Appears in the scientific report 2021

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; DEAL Springer ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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