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Commentary: Parricides—Unanswered Questions, Methodological Obstacles, and Legal Considerations

Dr. Hillbrand is Director of Psychology, Connecticut Valley Hospital, Middletown, CT, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Dr. Cipriano is Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT. Address correspondence to: Marc Hillbrand, PhD, Connecticut Valley Hospital, 70 O'Brien Drive, Middletown, CT 06457. E-mail: marc.hillbrand{at}po.state.ct.us

Unanswered questions about parricide abound. The scientific literature on parricide is modest and plagued by several methodological problems. In the present article, we seek to describe these problems, propose possible remedies, and review the legal considerations related to parricide. The rarity of the phenomenon creates significant barriers to the collecting of data about it. Moreover, generalization from any one study of parricide is also limited due to the low prevalence rate of the crime and ensuing difficulties with generating an unbiased sample of adequate size. The present article proposes strategies for accessing a statistically relevant sample size, in light of this low prevalence rate. Some of the remaining unanswered questions about parricide are also raised. Finally, legal questions surrounding criminal responsibility are explored.