Exploring the characteristics of homicide-suicide.

In partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, this thesis was written to explore the characteristics of homicide-suicide. Homicide-suicide involves the murder of another person followed by the perpetrator themselves dying by suicide. Understanding the clinical, as well as wider sociodemographic and criminal contexts, could help services to support individuals with challenges and effectively manage risk. This may reduce the risk of loss of life.

Paper one presents a review of the literature exploring the mental health characteristics associated with homicide-suicide perpetrators. A previous review of the literature was conducted in 2012, providing an initial description of the presence of mental health factors in homicide-suicide. This literature review aimed to provide an up-to-date description of mental health characteristics in homicide-suicide. 16 papers were identified, and the findings from these were critically appraised, analysed and a narrative synthesis produced. Five key areas for discussion were identified: the presence of mental health problems; mental health treatment; mental health diagnosis; suicidal ideation/attempts; psychosocial stressors.

Paper two presents two quantitative matched case studies. Study 1 examines the sociodemographic, clinical, and care characteristics of homicide-suicide, and compares these with the sociodemographic, clinical, and care characteristics of suicide in patient populations. Study 2 examines the sociodemographic, criminal, and victim characteristics of homicide-suicide, and compares these with the sociodemographic, criminal, and victim characteristics of homicide in the general population. In both studies, the two groups were compared via matched-case control in a conditional logistic regression. Common, and differing, characteristics were identified between those who die by homicide-suicide, suicide, and who commit homicide.

Paper three presents an executive summary of the findings described in paper two, in an accessible format. The summary is targeted at services who work with clients who may be at risk of committing homicide-suicide, homicide, or dying by suicide and anybody with an interest in this area.