Felthous A R, Hempel A
Forensic Service Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
J Forensic Sci. 1995 Sep;40(5):846-57.
Although the rate of combined homicide-suicides is low compared with that for suicide alone or homicide, homicide-suicides generate much public concern. In some cases, the homicide-suicide involves annihilation of an entire family or multiple non-family members. A difficult phenomenon to study--in part because the perpetrator is dead--it is, nonetheless, crucial to attempt to advance our understanding of this tragic phenomenon from a psychiatric view. This literature review then addresses demographic variables; proposes two classifications, one based on psychopathology, the other on the relationship between offender and victim; and suggests a three dimensional analytical approach to understanding homicide-suicide: 1) psychopathology and ego deficits of the perpetrator, 2) cumulative and precipitating stressors, and 3) motivation and vector of destructive urges against self and the other victim(s). Finally, some implications for mental health clinicians and forensic experts are offered. In attempting to understand acts of homicide-suicide, inquiry into the following dimensions should be useful: Ego Weakness. What type of mental disorder(s), psychopathology, or personality traits may have contributed to the homicidal-suicidal behavior? Stressors. What type of acute and chronic stressors did the individual experience leading up to this act? Vectors. Whom did the individual select to kill and why? Were some victims more clearly primary and others secondary or incidental?
尽管与单纯自杀或杀人案件相比，杀人后自杀的发生率较低，但此类案件引发了公众的广泛关注。在某些情况下，杀人后自杀涉及整个家庭或多名非家庭成员的灭门惨案。这是一种难以研究的现象——部分原因是犯罪者已死亡——然而，从精神病学角度努力增进我们对这一悲剧现象的理解至关重要。这篇文献综述探讨了人口统计学变量；提出了两种分类方法，一种基于精神病理学，另一种基于犯罪者与受害者之间的关系；并提出了一种理解杀人后自杀的三维分析方法：1）犯罪者的精神病理学和自我缺陷，2）累积性和突发性压力源，3）针对自我和其他受害者的毁灭冲动的动机和指向。最后，为心理健康临床医生和法医专家提供了一些启示。在试图理解杀人后自杀行为时，对以下几个维度进行探究可能会有所帮助：自我弱点。哪些精神障碍、精神病理学或人格特质可能导致了这种杀人后自杀行为？压力源。在实施这一行为之前，个体经历了哪些类型的急性和慢性压力源？指向。个体选择杀害了谁以及原因是什么？是否有些受害者更明显是主要目标，而其他受害者是次要或附带目标？
