HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bourget, D. Articles by Gagné, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bourget, D. Articles by Gagné, P.

Paternal Filicide in Québec

Dr. Bourget is Associate Professor in Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and coroner in the province of Québec, Canada. Dr. Gagné is Associate Professor in Psychiatry, University of Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, and coroner in the province of Québec. Address correspondence to: Dominique Bourget, MD, Royal Ottawa Hospital, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Z 7K4. E-mail: dbourget{at}rohcg.on.ca

In this retrospective study, relevant demographic, social, and clinical variables were examined in 77 cases of paternal filicide. Between 1991 and 2001, all consecutive coroners’ files on domestic homicide in Québec, Canada, were reviewed, and 77 child victims of 60 male parent perpetrators were identified. The results support data indicating that more fathers commit filicide than do mothers. A history of family abuse was characteristic of a substantial number of cases, and most of the cases involved violent means of homicide. Filicide was frequently (60%) followed by the suicide of the perpetrator and more so (86%) in cases involving multiple sibling victims. The abuse of drugs and alcohol was rare. At the time of the offense, most of the perpetrators were suffering from a psychiatric illness, usually depressive disorder. Nearly one-third were in a psychotic state. The proportion of fatal abuse cases was comparatively low. Many of the perpetrators had had contact with health professionals prior to the offense, although none had received treatment for a psychiatric illness.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Bourget and L. Whitehurst Amnesia and Crime J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, December 1, 2007; 35(4): 469 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Bourget, J. Grace, and L. Whitehurst A Review of Maternal and Paternal Filicide J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, March 1, 2007; 35(1): 74 - 82. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Bourget and P. Gagne Fratricide: A Forensic Psychiatric Perspective J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, December 1, 2006; 34(4): 529 - 533. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]