Homicide-Suicide in the Netherlands: An Epidemiology (original) (raw)

Homicide-suicide in the Netherlands: A study of newspaper reports, 1992 – 2005

Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 2007

Background: Homicides followed by the suicide of the perpetrator are a rare yet very serious form of interpersonal violence which occurs mainly in partnerships and families. It typically leads to widespread public interest and unease. No systematic research on homicide suicide has ever been conducted in the Netherlands. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the nature and incidence of homicide suicide in the Netherlands in the period 1992 2005, using cases reported in both national and regional newspapers. Results: On the basis of newspaper accounts, homicide suicide occurred on average seven times per year during this time period. Spousal/consortial homicide suicide was predominant, followed by homicide suicide involving the perpetrator's own children and familicide suicide. The perpetrators across all categories of homicide suicide were predominantly male; the victims were predominantly women and children. Firearms were used in the majority of the homicides and subsequent suicides. Conclusion: The domestic nature of homicide suicide events is discussed. Future research should aim to incorporate multiple methods in order to assess accurately the epidemiology of homicide suicide in the Netherlands.

Homicide–suicide and other violent deaths: An international comparison

Forensic Science International, 2011

Homicides followed by the suicide of the perpetrator constitute a serious form of interpersonal violence. Until now no study has directly compared homicide-suicides to other violent deaths from multiple countries, allowing for a better understanding of the nature of these violent acts. Using country-specific data, this study describes and compares the incidence and patterns of homicide-suicide as well as the relationship between homicide-suicide, homicide, suicide and domestic homicide in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. The results indicate that cross-nationally, homicide-suicides are more likely than other types of lethal violence to involve a female victim, multiple victims, take place in a residential setting and to be committed by a firearm. Although homicide-suicides display many similarities across the different countries, differences exist regarding age and the use of firearms in the offence. This study indicates that homicides followed by suicides differ from both homicides and suicides in similar ways internationally. Cross-national differences in the availability of firearms may explain the international variation of homicide-suicide rates and patterns. ß

Homicide-parasuicide: A qualitative comparison with homicide and parasuicide

Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 2010

Background: Homicides followed by the suicide of the perpetrator are a rare yet very serious form of interpersonal violence which occurs mainly in partnerships and families. It typically leads to widespread public interest and unease. No systematic research on homicide suicide has ever been conducted in the Netherlands. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the nature and incidence of homicide suicide in the Netherlands in the period 1992 2005, using cases reported in both national and regional newspapers. Results: On the basis of newspaper accounts, homicide suicide occurred on average seven times per year during this time period. Spousal/consortial homicide suicide was predominant, followed by homicide suicide involving the perpetrator's own children and familicide suicide. The perpetrators across all categories of homicide suicide were predominantly male; the victims were predominantly women and children. Firearms were used in the majority of the homicides and subsequent suicides. Conclusion: The domestic nature of homicide suicide events is discussed. Future research should aim to incorporate multiple methods in order to assess accurately the epidemiology of homicide suicide in the Netherlands.

The Epidemiology of Homicide followed by Suicide: A Systematic and Quantitative Review

This systematic review of population based studies of homicide followed by suicide was conducted to examine the associations between rates of homicidesuicide, rates of other homicides and rates of suicide. The review analysed 64 samples, including the case of an outlier (Greenland) that were reported in 49 studies. There was a significant association between the rates of homicide-suicide and those of other homicides in studies from the U.S.A. Outside the U.S.A. there was no clear association between homicide-suicide and other homicide but there was modest but significant association between rates of suicide and homicidesuicide. Homicide-suicide appears to be closer in epidemiological terms to homicide than suicide in regions with high rates of homicide and measures to reduce homicide in these regions may also reduce homicide-suicide.

Homicide-suicide offences: description, classification and short case studies

Journal of Criminal Psychology, 2015

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Homicide followed by suicide: A review

Aggression and Violent Behavior, 2010

Homicide-suicide is a severe form of interpersonal violence, leading to shock and incomprehension in society at large. This review delineates the present state of knowledge regarding homicide-suicide by addressing the main theoretical underpinnings, the nature and incidence of these acts, the relation with other types of lethal violence and the characteristics of subtypes of homicide-suicide. Based on a review of the literature, several theoretical and empirical shortcomings are addressed from which directions for future research can be derived.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Homicide–Suicide in Swiss Households: National Cohort Study

PLoS ONE, 2013

Background: Homicide-suicides are rare but catastrophic events. This study examined the epidemiology of homicidesuicide in Switzerland. Methods: The study identified homicide-suicide events 1991-2008 in persons from the same household in the Swiss National Cohort, which links census and mortality records. The analysis examined the association of the risk of dying in a homicide-suicide event with socio-demographic variables, measured at the individual-level, household composition variables and area-level variables. Proportional hazards regression models were calculated for male perpetrators and female victims. Results are presented as age-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: The study identified 158 deaths from homicide-suicide events, including 85 murder victims (62 women, 4 men, 19 children and adolescents) and 68 male and 5 female perpetrators. The incidence was 3 events per million households and year. Firearms were the most prominent method for both homicides and suicides. The risk of perpetrating homicide-suicide was higher in divorced than in married men (HR 3.64; 95%CI 1.56-8.49), in foreigners without permanent residency compared to Swiss citizens (HR 3.95; 1.52-10.2), higher in men without religious affiliations than in Catholics (HR 2.23; 1.14-4.36) and higher in crowded households (HR 4.85; 1.72-13.6 comparing $2 with ,1 persons/room). There was no association with education, occupation or nationality, the number of children, the language region or degree of urbanicity. Associations were similar for female victims. Conclusions: This national longitudinal study shows that living conditions associated with psychological stress and lower levels of social support are associated with homicide-suicide events in Switzerland.